Kimi Antonelli and the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team faced a challenging start to their practice sessions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the team views their progress as a positive step forward despite technical setbacks. Antonelli encountered a hydraulic issue in Free Practice 1, which limited his track time, and he missed the first half of Free Practice 2 while a new power unit was fitted following fire damage.
Despite these difficulties, Antonelli managed to post the fifth fastest time in FP1 and improved to second fastest in FP2. He currently leads the drivers' standings by 81 points after his win in the previous race in Madrid. Reflecting on the sessions, Antonelli described the practice as a "good recovery," expressing optimism about the car's performance while acknowledging there are still areas that require improvement.
His teammate George Russell showed strong pace throughout the practice sessions, topping both FP1 and FP2, finishing over half a second ahead in the latter. However, Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord cautioned that the gaps seen in FP2 do not accurately represent the true competitive order expected for qualifying and the race. He noted that the team anticipates a closer battle once the sessions progress.
The Mercedes team expects to be competitive on the low-drag Baku street circuit, which suits their car's characteristics. Still, they recognize the challenge involved in securing pole position amid a strong field. The practice sessions highlighted the team's ability to recover from early issues and adapt quickly to the demands of the track.
Antonelli’s comments underline the resilience required in Formula 1® when facing technical difficulties during a race weekend. His ability to bounce back and deliver competitive times despite limited running reflects both his skill and the team's efforts to manage unexpected setbacks.
Meanwhile, Russell’s consistent pace demonstrates Mercedes’ potential to challenge for top positions in Baku. The team’s leadership remains measured in their assessment, emphasizing that practice times are only part of the picture and that qualifying and race conditions will provide a clearer indication of performance.
Overall, the practice sessions in Azerbaijan offered Mercedes valuable data and a chance to address issues promptly. Antonelli’s recovery and the team’s outlook suggest they remain focused on refining their package as the weekend progresses.