George Russell set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The Mercedes driver posted a 1:45.387 to lead Max Verstappen by 0.400 seconds.
Verstappen finished second for Red Bull with a 1:45.787, narrowly ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc recorded a 1:45.791, while Hamilton completed his lap in 1:45.824.
Kimi Antonelli finished fifth with a 1:46.265, but his session was disrupted by a problem with his Mercedes W17. The championship leader had briefly been at the top of the timesheets before smoke emerged from the rear of his car after around 25 minutes.
Antonelli reported what appeared to be a hydraulics issue over team radio before bringing the Mercedes to a halt at Turn 7. The incident forced him to lose a significant portion of the session, although his earlier lap was still enough to place him fifth, 0.878 seconds behind Russell.
Oscar Piastri was the leading McLaren in sixth with a 1:46.398, followed by Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. Esteban Ocon placed ninth for Haas, while Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10 for Audi.
Nico Hulkenberg was 11th for Audi, ahead of Williams pair Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon. Lando Norris finished 14th for McLaren, followed by Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez, Franco Colapinto, Fernando Alonso and Isack Hadjar.
Lance Stroll was 21st, while Valtteri Bottas ended the session at the bottom of the order for Cadillac. With Antonelli's Mercedes requiring inspection after the failure, Russell's pace provides an encouraging start for Mercedes ahead of the next session in Baku.
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