Russell leads Azerbaijan GP first practice as Antonelli stops with hydraulic leak

Russell sets the Baku benchmark on soft tires

George Russell put Mercedes on top of the timesheets in opening practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, setting a 1:45.387 on the soft compound with about 20 minutes remaining in the session. The lap left Max Verstappen second on 1:45.787, exactly four-tenths adrift, with Charles Leclerc third on 1:45.791 and Lewis Hamilton fourth on 1:45.824, confirming Ferrari's strong start around the Baku City Circuit. The dusty track offered little grip early on, and both Russell and Verstappen ran close to the walls before the decisive lap was produced, with Verstappen having locked up and used the Turn 1 escape road.

Antonelli's hydraulic failure disrupts Mercedes' morning

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli briefly led the session with a 1:46.265 before his Mercedes stopped at Turn 7 with smoke coming from the car, the team later reporting a loss of hydraulics. A Virtual Safety Car was deployed for around two minutes while marshals dealt with the stricken car, and footage showed extinguishant being directed at the vehicle. Antonelli completed only nine laps and was classified fifth, leaving Mercedes with a split picture of pace and reliability heading into the second practice and a weekend in which he leads the drivers' standings.

McLaren's interrupted comparison work

McLaren's first look at its revised sidepods, floor-edge and diffuser parts was less complete than intended. Oscar Piastri was sixth on 1:46.398 despite floor damage that kept him in the garage late in the session, while Lando Norris had a loose floor component secured in the pits and ended only 14th on 1:46.981 after running 14 laps. The team will need more clean running to draw firm conclusions about the upgrade's effect on Baku's long straights.

Hadjar's return and late-session interruptions

Isack Hadjar, back in action for Red Bull after missing three races with a broken wrist, was limited to eight laps by engine and brake problems and classified 20th. Nico Hulkenberg stopped at Turn 4 late in the session, triggering a second Virtual Safety Car, while Carlos Sainz recovered from a brake fire to take 12th. The midfield closed tightly behind the top four, with Liam Lawson seventh and Arvid Lindblad eighth for Racing Bulls, Esteban Ocon ninth for Haas and Gabriel Bortoleto tenth on Audi's updated car.

Other developments

Reporting from across outlets consistently framed the session as Russell leading a disrupted opener, with Antonelli's hydraulic leak the main interruption and McLaren's upgrade evaluation left unfinished heading into the second practice.