F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2 Results: George Russell continued his strong pace on the opening day of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap in FP2. T
he Mercedes driver recorded a lap time of 1:43.347 at the Baku City Circuit, outpacing his teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.552 seconds. This gave Mercedes a 1-2 finish in FP2.
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Max Verstappen finished third with a lap time of 1:44.174, but was 0.827 seconds behind Russell. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Also Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 Results: George Russell Fastest, Antonelli Faces Issue
George Russell again fastest in F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2
Russell had a strong Thursday in Baku. The Mercedes driver also topped the session in FP1 with a 1:45.387 and further improved his pace in FP2. During the qualifying simulation on Soft tyres, Russell set a benchmark of 1:43.347, which no driver could beat until the end of the session.
Kimi Antonelli had a slightly delayed start to FP2. Mercedes had to change his car’s power unit after a hydraulic issue in FP1. Antonelli spent a large part of the session in the garage, but once on track, he showed impressive pace and secured P2 with a 1:43.899. The power unit was part of Mercedes’ existing pool, so there was no penalty for the change.
Verstappen P3, Ferrari drivers in top 5
Max Verstappen secured third place for Red Bull. The Dutch driver’s best time was 1:44.174, which was 0.827 seconds slower than Russell’s benchmark. Verstappen displayed strong pace in the earlier stages of the session and looked competitive even during the long runs.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth with a lap time of 1:44.473, while Lewis Hamilton finished fifth with a lap time of 1:44.665. Hamilton also faced an investigation after the session for impeding Liam Lawson.
Lando Norris finished sixth and Oscar Piastri eighth for McLaren. Norris’ best lap was 1:44.831, while Piastri set a 1:44.857. Pierre Gasly finished seventh and Isaac Hadjar ninth.
Also Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Free Practice 2 Updates & Latest Baku Track Action
Arvid Lindblad crash causes red flag
The session was red flagged after Arvid Lindblad’s crash midway through FP2. The Racing Bulls driver was unable to continue his car after contacting a barrier in Baku’s tight Castle section. The incident halted track action for a while.
Oliver Biermann also had a less productive session. The Haas driver stopped his car on track after a power-unit issue, limiting his running.
F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2 Results: Full Classification
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:43.347 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:43.899 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:44.174 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:44.473 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:44.665 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:44.831 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:44.843 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:44.857 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:44.868 |
| 10 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:45.290 |
In the full FP2 classification, Franco Colapinto finished 11th, Liam Lawson 12th, Sergio Perez 13th, Gabriel Bortoleto 14th, and Nico Hulkenberg 15th. Alex Albon finished 16th, Carlos Sainz 17th, Arvid Lindblad 18th, Valtteri Bottas 19th, Oliver Bearman 20th, Lance Stroll 21st, and Fernando Alonso 22nd.
Now a look at FP3 and Qualifying
Thursday’s track action at the Azerbaijan GP concluded with FP2. Teams will now test final setup changes in FP3 on Friday, followed by a qualifying session. According to the official F1 timetable, FP3 is scheduled for 12:30–13:30 Baku local time and Qualifying for 16:00–17:00 Baku local time.
Russell set the fastest times in both opening practice sessions, but slipstream, traffic, and tire preparation will be crucial during qualifying on Baku’s street circuit. Friday’s qualifying session will further clarify the picture for the starting grid.
Auto India Daily Verdict
Mercedes demonstrated a clear pace advantage in the F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2, with George Russell leading the session and Kimi Antonelli securing second place despite limited running. Ferrari and Red Bull also finished in the top five, while McLaren will have to make up a small gap in FP2. Now all eyes will be on FP3 and Qualifying.
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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.