George Russell Leads Mercedes 1-2 in F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2; Complete Results

Baku, Azerbaijan, September 25, 2026: George Russell completed a Friday clean sweep at the Baku City Circuit, topping Free Practice 2 for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Mercedes finished the session one-two.

Russell set the pace with a best lap of 1:43.347, finishing 0.552 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.827s behind Russell, while Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top five.

Russell had also topped FP1 earlier in the day, giving Mercedes the strongest overall start to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.

Antonelli’s FP2 running was significantly compromised after Mercedes changed his engine following the hydraulic issue that ended his FP1 session. The Italian eventually completed 15 laps, but his late arrival on track did not prevent him from securing second place.

Russell sets the FP2 benchmark in Baku

The session began with several drivers running on Medium tyres, while Antonelli remained in the Mercedes garage as his team worked on his car.

Russell initially moved to the top of the timing screens with a 1:46.300, before Verstappen responded with a 1:45.933. Lando Norris then briefly took the lead with a 1:45.184 on the Hard compound.

Verstappen quickly reclaimed P1 on the Medium tyres, but Russell continued to find performance from the Mercedes and lowered the benchmark to 1:44.537.

The session also demonstrated the narrow margins for error around the Baku street circuit. Lance Stroll brushed the wall at Turn 15, Liam Lawson had a moment at Turn 2 and Isack Hadjar locked up heavily at Turn 1.

Red flag after Lindblad crash

The biggest interruption came when Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad crashed at the tight Turn 8 section.

Lindblad carried too much speed through the corner, clipped the barrier and made further contact on the uphill exit. The incident brought out the red flags and ended Lindblad’s meaningful running.

The Racing Bulls driver was able to walk away from the car unhurt, but completed only four laps during the session.

Running resumed with just over 30 minutes remaining, allowing Antonelli to finally get out on track.

Russell continued to improve and eventually posted his session-leading 1:43.347, with the Mercedes driver benefiting from a slipstream from Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

Verstappen and Ferrari remain close

Charles Leclerc briefly put Ferrari at the top of the timing screens with a 1:44.473 before Russell returned to P1.

Antonelli then moved into second, while Verstappen settled into third ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton.

Verstappen had complained about the balance of his Red Bull earlier in the session, saying he was “constantly counter-steering” as the rear axle became unsettled.

Hamilton finished fifth with a 1:44.665, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly and Oscar Piastri. Hadjar completed the top nine.

The later stages of FP2 featured longer race-simulation runs as teams switched their focus from outright qualifying pace to tyre behaviour and race preparation.

Several drivers continued running on the Soft compound during their longer stints, with the tyre appearing capable of completing extended runs around Baku. This could have implications for teams’ tyre strategies during Sunday’s race.

There were a few further late moments, including Esteban Ocon running into the Turn 15 escape road and Norris making light contact with the wall at Turn 16.

Russell completed 23 laps and remained at the top when the chequered flag fell, securing a Mercedes one-two.

F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2 complete results

With Russell topping both Friday practice sessions, Mercedes heads into Saturday with a strong early showing at Baku. Antonelli’s limited running means there is still work for Mercedes to complete, while Verstappen and Ferrari remain among the leading contenders as teams prepare for qualifying and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The next major session will be Free Practice 3, followed by qualifying, where the field will battle for grid position around the demanding Baku street circuit.