George Russell set the pace in a disrupted opening Free Practice session for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver edging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.4s around the Baku City Circuit.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli had earlier set the benchmark but saw his session cut short when he stopped at Turn 7 after reporting a hydraulic problem. The Mercedes driver completed just nine laps, bringing out the Virtual Safety Car as marshals attended to his stricken car.

With the streets largely green at the start of the session, several drivers headed out early to help clean the racing line. Red Bull Racing’s Arvid Lindblad was among the first on track, running aero rakes as part of his programme alongside team-mate Liam Lawson.

Grip was initially at a premium, with Isack Hadjar, back in the Red Bull Racing car after recovering from a wrist injury, reporting difficulty under braking and admitting he had nearly hit the wall. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also complained of significant brake vibration, while Verstappen later reported that his Red Bull was pulling to the right even when travelling in a straight line.

Charles Leclerc set the early benchmark with a 1:54.395, but lap times quickly tumbled as the track improved. Verstappen moved into the lead with a 1:49.202 before Leclerc responded with a 1:49.025. The Red Bull driver continued to find time, eventually setting a 1:46.512, although several drivers struggled to keep their cars under control over the bumpy surface.

Antonelli then moved to the top of the order with a 1:46.265, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen, George Russell and Leclerc. However, the Italian’s session was soon brought to an abrupt end when he stopped at Turn 7 after reporting a loss of hydraulics. The Mercedes came to rest on track and a Virtual Safety Car was deployed while marshals attended to the car.

Once the circuit returned to green-flag conditions, Russell switched to the Soft tyres in an attempt to recover some of the running lost by Mercedes. The Briton survived a lock-up at Turn 3 but subsequently delivered a 1:45.387 thanks to a strong tow from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to take the top spot. 

Verstappen also encountered trouble on his first Soft-tyre run, locking up at Turn 1 before abandoning the lap. He later completed a clean run to go second with a 1:45.787, 0.400 seconds behind Russell. Leclerc was just 0.004s further back in third, with Hamilton fourth on a 1:45.824.

The opening session was less straightforward for McLaren. Piastri was instructed to return to the pits for a check, with the team investigating damage to the car. He subsequently remained in the garage for much of the session, although he was able to return later and eventually set a 1:46.398 for sixth.

Norris, meanwhile, completed only 14 laps after the team identified movement in the floor area of his McLaren. A temporary repair allowed the reigning champion to return to the circuit, but he finished 14th with a 1:46.981.

There were further interruptions elsewhere. Hadjar was forced to return to the pits with an engine-related problem after being instructed to remain in second gear, limiting him to just eight laps and leaving him 20th. Williams also experienced a brake issue, with Carlos Sainz suffering a fire in the pit lane before returning to action.

Lindblad briefly became stuck at Turn 7, while Hülkenberg stopped at Turn 4 and exited his Audi to help push it clear. Esteban Ocon subsequently stopped at pit exit.

Russell therefore ended FP1 fastest, with Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton all within 0.437s of the Mercedes. Antonelli’s early benchmark was good enough for fifth despite completing only nine laps, while Piastri, Lawson, Lindblad, Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.

FIA Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:45.387 24 205.061
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:45.787 0.400 22 204.285
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:45.791 0.404 25 204.278
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:45.824 0.437 25 204.214
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:46.265 0.878 9 203.367
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:46.398 1.011 17 203.112
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:46.440 1.053 26 203.032
8 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:46.601 1.214 23 202.726
9 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:46.624 1.237 19 202.682
10 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:46.688 1.301 21 202.560
11 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 1:46.871 1.484 22 202.213
12 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:46.893 1.506 22 202.172
13 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:46.939 1.552 29 202.085
14 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:46.981 1.594 14 202.005
15 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:46.994 1.607 22 201.981
16 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 1:47.043 1.656 22 201.888
17 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 1:47.253 1.866 24 201.493
18 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 1:47.523 2.136 23 200.987
19 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 1:47.835 2.448 24 200.406
20 Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:47.873 2.486 8 200.335
21 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 1:48.547 3.160 22 199.091
22 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 1:49.315 3.928 22 197.692