George Russell edged Kimi Antonelli to the top of Thursday’s FP2 by over half a second, launching Mercedes into a commanding position for Friday’s final practice at the Baku City Circuit.
Practice Highlights
Russell’s performance left team‑mate Lewis Hamilton five places behind, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull securing third place. Charles Leclerc and Hamilton followed in fourth and fifth, while Lando Norris became the quickest McLaren, occupying sixth after the team introduced a substantial upgrade package.
Track Incidents
Arvid Lindblad’s crash in the tight castle section brought a red flag, while Oliver Bearman suffered a power‑unit failure immediately after the restart. Fernando Alonso completed only nine laps before an oil leak terminated his morning run with Aston Martin.
Weekend Overview
The schedule for the Azerbaijan GP weekend unfolds in the following sequence:
- Thursday, 24 September – Free Practice 1 – 12:30 pm AZT
- Thursday, 24 September – Free Practice 2 – 4:00 pm AZT
- Friday, 25 September – Free Practice 3 – 12:30 pm AZT
- Friday, 25 September – Qualifying – 4:00 pm AZT
- Saturday, 26 September – Race – 3:00 pm AZT
UK viewers will follow a 9:30 am BST start for practice three and 1:00 pm BST for qualifying, while US audiences aligned with Eastern Time see practice at 4:30 am ET and qualifying at 8:00 am ET.
Broadcast Coverage
In the United States, all sessions are streamed live on Apple TV, a continuation of the multi‑year partnership for the 2026 season. The global subscription service F1 TV provides worldwide coverage. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports maintains exclusive broadcast rights, with live sessions available on Sky Go, NOW, and highlights freely on Channel 4.
Weather Outlook
Friday’s forecast points to cooler temperatures, around 24 °C during final practice, dropping to low‑20s for qualifying. Light showers may appear toward the end of FP3, and a moderate chance of rain persists for the qualifying session. Wind is expected to be the dominant variable, with northerly gusts potentially reaching 75 km/h during FP3 and 65 km/h during qualifying, threatening car balance on Baku’s exposed straights and braking zones.
Saturday is predicted to bring clearer skies and temperatures near 25 °C, setting a favorable context for the Grand Prix.
Baku’s street circuit forces drivers to balance confident braking, straight‑line speed, and energy management, a test intensified by the unpredictable wind conditions this weekend.
"