Mercedes and Verstappen set the pace at Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice sessions

The Formula 1 weekend in Baku commenced on September 24, 2026, with Mercedes showing early dominance. George Russell topped the first free practice (FP1) with a lap time of 1:45.387, while teammate Kimi Antonelli suffered a hydraulic issue that curtailed his running. Mercedes rebounded in FP2 to secure a 1-2 finish, as Russell clocked 1:43.347, leading Antonelli by 0.552 seconds. During this session, a red flag was deployed following an incident involving Lindblad hitting the barriers.

The dynamic shifted on the morning of September 25, 2026, as Max Verstappen set the fastest time in FP3, outpacing both Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Following these practice sessions, qualifying is scheduled for the afternoon of September 25 at 15:00, with the main Grand Prix race set to take place on Saturday, September 26, at 14:00 local time. The weekend continues to highlight the competitive pressure between the Mercedes drivers and the championship leader, Verstappen, as teams navigate the demanding street circuit.