Azerbaijan GP: George Russell fastest in second practice ahead of Kimi Antonelli in dominant start in Baku

​​Mercedes' Russell built on the form that had seen him top the day's earlier first practice session to stay at the head of the timesheet, this time finishing with a half-second advantage around the challenging streets of Baku.

Antonelli, who leads Russell by 81 points in the chase for 2026's Drivers' Championship, experienced a compromised Thursday owing to the hydraulic leak that stopped his car midway through the opening session.

The Italian returned to the track with just over 30 minutes of the second session left, after an engine change, and worked his way up to second on the timesheet, eventually finishing 0.552s behind Russell.

"We lost quite a few laps in FP1 and missing half of FP2 is never ideal, especially on a street circuit," said Antonelli.

"Overall, I feel like it was a good recovery. I feel quite good in the car. A few things to work on but looking forward to tomorrow."

Max Verstappen took third to end a promising opening day in an upgraded Red Bull car, although his deficit to the front was 0.8s.

Everyone else was over a second off the pace, including the Ferraris and McLarens. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth respectively, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sixth and eighth.

Norris described McLaren's deficit to the front as "pretty pants".

Pierre Gasly was seventh for Alpine with the returning Isack Hadjar ninth for Red Bull and Esteban Ocon, whose Haas seat appears set to go elsewhere for 2027, 10th quickest.

Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad brought out Thursday's only red flag when he crashed in the narrow castle section of the challenging Baku lap.

Is Baku poised to be Russell vs Antonelli?

After falling in excess of three race wins behind Antonelli last time out in Madrid, Russell admitted he was not in a realistic fight for the championship despite being his team-mate's nearest challenger in the points.

Russell, though, said on Wednesday that he felt he was in the form to win races again - something he has not done since the Austrian Grand Prix in June - and he has certainly made a positive start to that quest in Baku, where has finished on the podium in three of the past four years.

"He's driving well," said Sky Sports F1 's Jacques Villeneuve after the second session.

"Where he makes the difference is all the narrow bits where the car needs to be precise. Antonelli drives with more understeer, so pays a bit of a price there.

"It seems like a straight fight between the two [Mercedes] team-mates."

Friday September 25 5.10am: F2 Sprint* 9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session starts at 9.30am)* 11.10am: F2 Feature Race 1* 12.30pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up* 1PM: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING* 3pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Saturday September 26 7.55am: F2 Feature Race 2 10.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up* 12PM: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX* 2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction* 3pm: Ted's Notebook*

Racing on a Saturday! The 2026 Formula 1 season continues live on Sky Sports F1 this week as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header of races, with the Baku race taking place on Saturday at midday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime