What happened in F1 2026 Azerbaijan GP first practice
The Race • • sports
Key Points:
- George Russell topped the first Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice session with a fastest lap of 1m45.387s, aided by a tow from Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin on the final straight.
- Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli stopped on track due to hydraulic pressure loss after initially setting the fastest time on hard tyres, while both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, spent significant time in the garage addressing upgrades.
- Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc closely followed Russell, with Verstappen second and Leclerc just 0.004 seconds behind in third, while Lewis Hamilton was fourth.
- Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad finished seventh and eighth, respectively, with Lindblad causing a late yellow flag after stopping and reversing at Turn 7.
- Isack Hadjar's return to the Red Bull car was cut short due to engine issues after eight laps, leading to a cautious return to the pits and a 20th place finish in the session.
