George Russell wasted no time asserting his authority in practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Thursday. The Mercedes driver ended FP2 on top, signaling that his team has rediscovered its early-2026 form. For Russell, this was more than just a lap time—it was a statement of intent.
Mercedes looked convincing in both pace and reliability, completing more push laps than its immediate rivals and improving with every timed lap. Although the team downplayed the gap as not fully representative, Russell's position is as strong as it gets after practice day. Meanwhile, his teammate Kimi Antonelli struggled with reliability issues, leaving him on the back foot.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord highlighted Russell's affinity for the Baku circuit. “George was pretty sick here last year and finished P2. He goes well at every circuit, but this is one where traditionally he's had some really strong results. That's what you're looking for as a team—if one car hits trouble, the other one's right up there and leading the way,” he said. That combination of speed and consistency makes Mercedes a force to be reckoned with on the streets of Baku.
McLaren, on the other hand, had a less encouraging start. The major bodywork upgrade it brought required some makeshift engineering work during practice, and FP1 was mileage-limited. Lando Norris, who was quicker than Oscar Piastri, admitted the car felt good but was still 1.5 seconds off the pace. “We're just miles off the pace. At a slow-speed track with a very long straight, Mercedes is quicker than us in every slow-speed corner and on the straights. Nothing's a surprise, maybe the size of the gap is. But I said yesterday I don't expect to be that great here,” Norris commented.
Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, turned heads by splitting the McLarens and finishing seventh. The Alpine driver was pleased with the balance of his car and confident for the race. “I'm very pleased. What I've felt gives me some good confidence for tomorrow,” Gasly said. Audi and Racing Bulls brought substantial upgrades, but Alpine has emerged as the midfield car to beat, at least in Gasly's hands.
Audi and Williams, however, endured a disappointing start. Both teams brought significant upgrades but ended up behind Sergio Perez's Cadillac in FP2. Gabriel Bortoleto, who ran the new Audi parts, reported a lack of grip: “The car didn't feel amazing in FP2 if I'm very honest, we're lacking a little bit of grip.” His teammate Nico Hulkenberg was even further back after running the old parts. It was a frustrating beginning for teams hoping to make a step forward.
With this practice result, Mercedes has sent a clear message: they are not just contenders but genuine threats. Russell is in an ideal position, while rivals must work hard to close the gap. Saturday's race will be the real test, but one thing is certain—Mercedes has turned a promising new page in 2026.
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