The first day of practice at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku saw Mercedes setting the pace, with George Russell leading both sessions. Despite some technical setbacks for his teammate Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes demonstrated strong performance on the demanding street circuit. Other teams faced a mix of challenges and progress as they prepared for qualifying and the race.
Russell topped the timesheets in both FP1 and FP2, while Antonelli encountered hydraulic and power unit issues but managed to recover to second place in the afternoon session. Red Bull Racing dealt with early brake problems; Max Verstappen remained competitive, finishing in the top three in both sessions. His teammate Isack Hadjar experienced a gearbox problem but showed improvement in FP2. Ferrari ran clean sessions without using soft tyres in FP1, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton competitive but still needing more pace to match Mercedes.
McLaren struggled with brake and bodywork issues during FP1 but improved in FP2, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing inside the top 10, though not among the very fastest. Racing Bulls had a solid FP1, but Arvid Lindblad’s crash in FP2 caused red flags that limited running. Liam Lawson remained competitive but dropped off pace in the second session.
Alpine had a quiet but steady day, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto showing potential to challenge midfield rivals. Haas faced reliability concerns; Esteban Ocon remained consistent in the top 10, while Oliver Bearman suffered an engine failure in FP2. Audi introduced extensive aerodynamic upgrades, gathering data despite fading pace and red flags. Williams experienced brake fire and radio issues with Carlos Sainz, though their new chassis showed promise. Both Williams drivers fell back in FP2.
Cadillac managed brake overheating problems, with Sergio Perez improving to 13th in the afternoon, while Valtteri Bottas struggled. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll faced grid penalties due to new power unit components. Alonso’s running in FP2 was limited by an oil leak. Pirelli noted the track was dirty at the start of the day but evolved significantly, with tyre degradation remaining low. This suggests a likely one-stop race, making tyre preparation a key focus for teams ahead of qualifying and the race.
The practice sessions highlighted the ongoing challenges teams face on Baku’s street circuit, where evolving track conditions and technical reliability remain crucial. Mercedes showed early strength, but other teams continue to work on setup and performance as the weekend progresses.