George Russell set the pace in the first practice session of the 2026 Formula 1® Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap time of 1m45.387s. The session saw championship leader Kimi Antonelli face an early setback when his Mercedes car stopped on track due to a suspected hydraulic failure, bringing out a virtual safety car.
Russell’s time came with around 20 minutes remaining in the one-hour session, edging out Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who had earlier set a competitive benchmark. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three, showing solid pace on the challenging Baku street circuit. The session was marked by cautious running as drivers adapted to the dusty and slippery conditions typical of the venue.
Antonelli had shown early promise by leading the session before his Mercedes W17 suffered the technical issue at Turn 7. His stoppage required the deployment of a virtual safety car, which temporarily slowed the session. Later, another virtual safety car was triggered following incidents involving Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg, further interrupting running.
McLaren introduced a significant upgrade package for this weekend, including new sidepods, floor edges, and a diffuser. However, Lando Norris faced difficulties after sustaining damage and was unable to set a representative lap on the soft tyres. Williams also brought a major upgrade package but encountered brake overheating issues, which affected Carlos Sainz’s running during the session.
Other notable performances included Oscar Piastri finishing sixth and Liam Lawson seventh, both drivers showing promising pace for their respective teams. The session underlined the challenges of the Baku street circuit, where track conditions can be unpredictable and technical reliability remains crucial.
The first practice session provided an early glimpse of team form and highlighted some of the technical challenges ahead. While Russell’s pace was encouraging for Mercedes, Antonelli’s hydraulic failure serves as a reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1® where mechanical issues can quickly disrupt a driver’s weekend.