George Russell closed out the third practice session (FP3) as the fastest man, sending a serious warning that pole position for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit is within his grasp. However, Max Verstappen was just 99 milliseconds adrift, setting the stage for a heated qualifying battle later this afternoon.
Under the clear Baku sky, Russell extracted every ounce from his Mercedes W17 to set the benchmark time. George Russell has been consistent all weekend, having also led FP1 and FP2. Still, he can't breathe easy as Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing kept shadowing him with a tiny margin.
Mercedes Dominance vs Red Bull Threat
Lewis Hamilton offered Ferrari hope by taking third, just 111 milliseconds behind Russell. This is a positive sign for the Maranello squad, who are battling to find performance on street circuits. Meanwhile, Russell's teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, had to settle for fourth, trailing his senior by a fair margin.
Charles Leclerc struggled mightily. The Monegasque could only manage sixth, six-tenths off Russell. Leclerc complained about struggling to find optimal grip with the soft tyres towards the end of the session, something that could haunt him in qualifying.
Interestingly, Verstappen was fastest in the morning session, proving Red Bull cannot be underestimated. The RB22 seems well-suited to Baku's characteristics, which blend slow corners and long straights. Qualifying will be the real test for both teams.
Pole Position Fight in Baku
Qualifying will start at 14:00 local time (20:00 WIB) and is predicted to be fierce. The Baku circuit is known as one of the most challenging street tracks, with narrow walls and blind corners. The slightest mistake can be costly, as has often happened in the past.
Russell is clearly the favourite, but Verstappen has a strong record in Baku. In 2025, Verstappen won here after a thrilling battle. Now, with an increasingly competitive car, he is determined to repeat that success. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Leclerc are trying to save Ferrari's face in front of the faithful tifosi.
Don't miss the action as drivers fight for the best starting position. Who will lock in pole? Watch live only on Sportrik Media.
Baca Juga
F1 GP Azerbaijan 2026: George Russell tercepat di FP3 Baku, ungguli Verstappen 99 milidetik. Simak persaingan pole position dan hasil latihan bebas ketiga.
Max Verstappen akhirnya memuncaki FP3 F1 Azerbaijan 2026, ungguli George Russell. Simak hasil lengkap dan analisis persaingan jelang kualifikasi.
Max Verstappen menjadi tercepat di FP3 F1 Azerbaijan 2026, mengalahkan George Russell. Simak hasil lengkap dan analisis persaingan menuju kualifikasi.
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