Russell tops first practice in Baku as Antonelli stops and McLaren cars spend time in garage

George Russell recorded the quickest time in the first practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, posting a 1:45.387 lap midway through the hour-long run on the Baku street circuit. He benefited from a tow from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin on the final straight, finishing four tenths ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who set his best time on his third attempt on the soft tyres. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was just 0.004 seconds slower, with teammate Lewis Hamilton in fourth place.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who had been leading the session before his stop, recorded a fifth-fastest time on hard tyres before coming to a halt in the runoff area after Turn 7, reportedly due to a loss of hydraulic pressure. Antonelli was preparing for a soft-tyre run when the issue occurred.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both spent an extended period in the garage while the team inspected upgraded MCL40 components. Both cars later returned to the track, with Norris completing 14 laps and posting the 14th-fastest time. Racing Bulls saw both of its drivers in the top ten, with Liam Lawson seventh after returning to the seat following a brief stint at Red Bull.

Other notable performances included Esteban Ocon ninth for Haas, Gabriel Bortoleto tenth for Audi, and Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in 12th and 13th. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, back after a wrist injury, completed only eight laps before reporting a severe engine issue and was instructed to use second gear before returning to the pits, ending the session in 20th place.