F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 Results: The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend began with an action-packed FP1 session at the Baku City Circuit, where George Russell set the fastest time for Mercedes.
Russell completed a lap of 1:45.387, leaving Max Verstappen behind by 0.400 seconds. Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari.
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But the biggest headline of FP1 wasn’t Russell’s fastest time, but championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s hydraulic issue. The Mercedes driver only completed approximately 25 minutes of running before having to stop his car at Turn 7. Furthermore, the sessions of Isaac Hadjer and McLaren drivers also didn’t go as smoothly as expected.
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George Russell Tops F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1
George Russell set his best lap in the final stages of FP1. The Mercedes driver’s time of 1:45.387 was the session benchmark. Russell also received a strong tow from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin during this lap, which gave him an extra advantage on Baku’s long straight.
Max Verstappen took second place with a lap of 1:45.787 on soft tires. The Red Bull driver was just 0.400 seconds behind Russell. Verstappen also used the run-off area after a lock-up at Turn 1 during the session, but he was able to continue without any major problems.
Ferrar displayed strong pace in opening practice. Charles Leclerc finished third with a time of 1:45.791, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth with a time of 1:45.824. Both Ferrari drivers set their fastest laps on medium tires, while Russell and Verstappen used the soft compound.
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes Troubled by Hydraulic Issue
FP1’s most significant setback came for championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Italian driver was on strong pace in the session’s opening phase and temporarily reached the top of the timing sheets with a time of 1:46.265 on hard tires.
But after installing soft tires, a hydraulic problem was reported in his Mercedes W17. Antonelli parked his car on the side at Turn 7 and the issue forced the Virtual Safety Car to be deployed. His session ended after just around 25 minutes. Despite this, his earlier lap was enough to give him P5 in the final classification.
Russell’s P1 result was positive for Mercedes, but Antonelli’s limited running team will have a significant concern ahead of FP2.
Isaac Hadjar’s comeback session was also difficult
After missing three races, Isaac Hadjar’s comeback FP1 did not go as expected. The Red Bull driver complained about braking behavior in the early stages, and a power unit issue severely limited his running.
Hadjar reported the engine issue to the team, and his car was returned to the garage. He finished in P20 in the official FP1 classification, completing only a limited number of laps.
This means that Red Bull will have a significant opportunity for Hadjar to recover lost track time in FP2.
McLaren also faces setback in Baku FP1
Opening practice was also not ideal for McLaren. Oscar Piastri complained of brake vibrations in the early stages of the session, and the team subsequently had to work on his car. Piastri still finished P6 and set a best time of 1:46.398.
Lando Norris’s session was more difficult. The McLaren driver completed limited running and finished P14 in the final classification. According to the official F1 report, floorboard-related work was also carried out on Norris’ car, which restricted his track time.
It will be interesting to see the team’s actual pace in FP2 after McLaren’s major upgrades, as both drivers failed to run cleanly in FP1.
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Mixed Session for Williams and Audi
Williams’ Carlos Sainz also encountered a rear brake issue around the opening 15 minutes. His car’s rear brakes were found to be faulty, and he returned to the pit lane. Sainz eventually finished in P12, while teammate Alex Albon finished in P13.
For Audi, Gabriele Bortoleto secured the top 10 with a P10 finish. Nico Hulkenberg finished in P11. A VSC was also deployed when Hulkenberg’s Audi stopped in the final minutes of the session.
Esteban Ocon finished P9 for Haas, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad finished P7 and P8 respectively.
F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 Results
The official F1 classification has Russell in P1, Verstappen in P2, Leclerc in P3, and Hamilton in P4, while Antonelli finishes the session in P5.
What to look for before FP2 in Baku?
FP1 results cannot be considered a perfect indicator of final pace, as Ferrari set their fastest laps on medium tyres and several drivers failed to get clean runs. Russell and Verstappen’s soft-tyre laps kept Mercedes and Red Bull at the top of the timing sheets, but the teams’ tyre programmes and representative qualifying-style runs could change the picture in FP2.
The biggest focus will be on Antonelli’s Mercedes. The championship leader missed a significant portion of FP1, so Mercedes will need to diagnose a hydraulic issue and prepare the car for FP2. Additional track time will also be crucial for Hadjar and McLaren.
Baku’s street circuit features high-speed straights along with a narrow Old City section, so reliability and track confidence are both crucial in practice sessions. The 2026 Azerbaijan GP takes place on Saturday, with qualifying taking place on Friday after FP1.
Auto India Daily Verdict
Baku F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 Results: George Russell fastest, but the overall picture remains unclear. Mercedes showed the pace through Russell, Red Bull’s Verstappen was just four-tenths behind and Ferrari’s Leclerc-Hamilton secured P3-P4 on medium tyres.
Also, interrupted sessions for Antonelli, Hadjar and McLaren mean it’s too early to draw a complete competitive picture of the weekend from FP1. After clean running and proper tyre runs in FP2, the true performance gap between the teams could become more clearly visible in Baku.
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Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.