Russell leads Verstappen in disrupted Azerbaijan practice

George Russell set the fastest time in first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading Max Verstappen by 0.400 seconds as mechanical problems curtailed running for several drivers, including Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. Charles Leclerc was third in the session on the Baku street circuit on September 24, 2026. Russell recorded a 1 minute, 45.387-second lap on soft tyres. His fastest effort came with a tow from Fernando Alonso along the main straight, according to session accounts. Verstappen was second, with Leclerc 0.004 seconds behind him and Lewis Hamilton fourth. Antonelli’s earlier hard-tyre time was enough for fifth, 0.878 seconds off Russell’s pace. Antonelli stopped at Turn 7 after reporting a hydraulic problem over team radio. The stoppage ended his session before he could complete a soft-tyre run. The reports do not establish the cause of the issue or whether his car was ready for the next session. Isack Hadjar, returning to the Red Bull cockpit after missing three races with a wrist injury, completed eight laps before reporting what he described as an engine problem and returning to the pits. He did not resume running and finished 20th.