Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Russell quickest in FP1

sportsSep 24, 202630159

Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest time in FP1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a lap 0.4 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was fifth fastest but stopped on his first lap on the soft tyres with a hydraulic leak at Turn One, smoke coming from the engine-cover cooling vents and causing him to miss roughly half the session; his best time was 0.878 seconds off Russell. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth, both just over 0.4 seconds behind Russell, and neither Ferrari ran the soft tyre as teams ran varied programmes. Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were seventh and eighth, with Haas driver Esteban Ocon ninth as he continues to fight for his F1 future after saying he is a free agent for 2027. Audi drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg ran ninth and 10th overall, both carrying a major upgrade; Hülkenberg stopped on track late in the session after Lindblad briefly stopped facing the barriers at Turn Seven. Russell trails Antonelli by 81 championship points, and Antonelli will need to make up lost running in FP2 later in the day.

#1 Lifelong Houston Cougs Fan Brandi 😾

@itsthebrandi.bsky.social

I wonder why they're racing on Saturday instead of Sunday *Reads article* Oh. Oh no. www.racefans.net/2026/09/21/h...

101Yesterday

Quoting this

Stef Schrader18

Shameful. (Still.) This blatant sportswashing exercise has been a stain on the F1 calendar from the start, but talk about burying the gottdanged lead here.

Fred Smith10

Man this country sure loves bringing up the evil they did this decade as close to its one global event as possible, huh

Selene 🏳️‍⚧️ | ⚸6

oh right f1 simply had to move because of a scheduling conflict with the genocide celebration day

Matt Bishop 🏳️‍🌈 🏁

@thebishf1.bsky.social

Since the #AzerbaijanGP is coming up, I’ve devoted my new @motor-sport.bsky.social column to the most frenetic Baku GP of them all, the 2021 race, scene of Seb Vettel’s dramatic 2nd place for Aston Martin, a triumph that I was at the centre of. Click below. www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/sin...

37Yesterday

Daniel Valente 🏎️

@f1guydan.bsky.social

🗣️ George Russell on his & Oscar Piastri’s struggles in 2026 “(Oscar and I) have won in F4, F3 and F2. I have no doubt in my ability, I'm sure Oscar has no doubt in his, it will just take time.”

7Yesterday

Racingnews365

@racingnews365.com

An obvious track for a PU penalty but just more woe for the team #F1 #AzerbaijanGP #Baku Aston Martin pain to continue with Azerbaijan Grand Prix penalties

3h ago

Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys

@deadlypassions-pod.bsky.social

We don't exactly think of the Caucasus region of the world as being a major hub for motorsport, but ahead of this weekend's #AzerbaijanGP, I want to revisit the 1923 Transcaucasian Competitive Automobile Run! www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRV...

3Yesterday

F1Documents

@f1docs.bsky.social

Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Doc 2 - Post-Race Checks on Car Number 63, 2026 Spanish GP #AzerbaijanGP

3Yesterday

Racingnews365

@racingnews365.nl

Moet Mercedes ingrijpen in de stevige duels tussen Antonelli en Russell? #F1 #RN365 #AzerbaijanGP

17h ago

kelly ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

@niize.bsky.social

george russell you WILL reignite that mr saturday nickname this weekend

2Yesterday

FIA Documents

@fiadocuments.bsky.social

New FIA Document: 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Infringement - Free Practice 1 Deleted Lap Times - Double Yellow Flags #f1 #formula1 #AzerbaijanGP

13h ago

Formula One History

@f1history1950.bsky.social

2023 – Red Bull secure the title #OnThisDay 24 September, Max Verstappen dominated the Japanese Grand Prix, starting from pole, setting the fastest lap, and taking the win for Red Bull. #F1 #formula1

13h ago

Birdie (hiatus)

@atinymexicanbird.bsky.social

Max Verstappen winning the Azerbaijan GP would fix me I think...

1Yesterday

Dirty Side of the Track podcast

@dirtysidepod.bsky.social

A day earlier than usual, we have the Azerbaijan GP coming this SATURDAY. Here's the preview poster for the race... #F1

1Yesterday

Nachrichten

@de-nachrichten.bsky.social

Aktuell im Formel-1-Liveticker: +++ Die Trainings in Baku live +++ George Russell in FT1 vorne, Defekt bei WM-Leader Kimi Antonelli +++ FT2 um 14:00 Uhr MESZ +++

12h ago

Junaid Samodien

@junaidsamodien.bsky.social

George Russell: Slightly early above on Sunday afternoon, I guess, but it's three races. Yes, I think some races you'll be thankful.

1Yesterday

Pidgeon - Smart Trending News iOS

@pidgeonai.bsky.social

George Russell set the fastest lap in Azerbaijan GP FP1, 0.4s ahead of Verstappen. Mercedes looking strong in Baku. #Sports #F1

3h ago

3 sources

bbc.co.ukAzerbaijan Grand Prix: George Russell fastest as Kimi Antonelli stops on track with hydraulic leak pidgeon.newsGeorge Russell fastest in Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP1 f1oversteer.comFerrari fans ‘don’t want to see’ what Charles Leclerc just did at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Russell quickest in FP1

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