Russell Tops Azerbaijan GP FP1 as Verstappen Trails; Antonelli Faces Hydraulic Woes
George Russell set the fastest time in the first practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading Max Verstappen by four-tenths. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli's session was cut short due to a hydraulic issue.
George Russell kicked off the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in promising style, clocking the fastest lap during the first practice session in Baku. The Mercedes driver led the pack with a time of 1m 45.387s, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by four-tenths of a second. Not far behind, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
As the session began, the circuit's dusty and slippery nature challenged the drivers immediately. Isack Hadjar, back in action after recovering from a wrist injury, struggled with brake issues on his Red Bull, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri reported concerning vibrations early on. Williams' Carlos Sainz had a fiery moment with his brakes, cutting his session short as he limped back to the pits.
Kimi Antonelli initially set the pace with a 1m 46.265s on hard tyres. However, his practice was abruptly halted when a hydraulic issue forced him to stop at Turn 7, prompting a Virtual Safety Car for recovery.
The session saw its share of off-track excursions, with both Verstappen and Russell making brief detours into run-off areas. Verstappen was the first to break the 1m 46s barrier, only for Russell to later better it with the help of a handy tow down the main straight.
As the clock ticked down, Arvid Lindblad found himself stuck in a run-off zone, and Nico Hulkenberg's Audi needed retrieval, causing another Virtual Safety Car. Despite these interruptions, Russell's time remained unbeaten.
Behind Russell and Verstappen, Leclerc and his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton secured the third and fourth spots, respectively, using medium tyres. Antonelli's earlier effort kept him in fifth, despite his early departure.
Piastri managed some running despite early issues, while Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Lindblad, Haas driver Esteban Ocon, and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten.
Hulkenberg, Sainz, and Albon followed suit, with Lando Norris managing only 14th after McLaren's problematic session. Haas's Ollie Bearman led a group including Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Cadillac's Sergio Perez, and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.
The back of the grid featured Hadjar, who faced power unit troubles, with Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas completing the lineup.
The session's results reflect a mix of challenges and promising performances, setting the stage for an intriguing weekend in Azerbaijan.