George Russell tops FP2 in Baku: it's Mercedes one-two
Russell Dominates Practice Sessions in Baku
George Russell has delivered a commanding performance at the Baku City Circuit, becoming only the second driver this season to sweep the opening two practice sessions. The Mercedes driver displayed exceptional pace across both FP1 and FP2, signaling a strong challenge for the upcoming sessions.
Mercedes One-Two in FP2
The second practice session saw a dominant Mercedes display as Russell posted a benchmark lap of 1:43.347s, making him the first driver to dip below the one-minute 44-second mark. He secured a comfortable one-two for the team, finishing over half a second ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelliâs session was far from straightforward. After missing most of FP1 due to a hydraulics failure on his W17âwhich necessitated a power unit changeâthe rookie was limited to just 30 minutes of action in FP2. Despite the setbacks, Antonelli managed to show significant speed, recording the sixth-quickest lap during his first flying lap.
Verstappen and Ferrari Trail Behind
While Russell and Mercedes looked formidable, the competition remained within striking distance. Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished third in FP2, trailing Russell by four-tenths of a second. Verstappen had also been the primary challenger in FP1, where Russell utilized a significant tow along the main straight to beat him by the same margin.
The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed closely behind the leaders. However, the seven-time champion, Hamilton, faces potential scrutiny from the stewards following an investigation for seriously impeding Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson.
Session Disruptions and Incidents
The practice sessions were not without drama. Arvid Lindblad triggered the first red flag of the event after a hard impact with a barrier at the castle section in FP2. This marked the second consecutive FP2 crash for the Racing Bulls driver, following a similar incident at the Spanish GP.
Further complications arose for Haas driver Oliver Bearman, whose session was cut short when his engine failed between Turns 1 and 2. Meanwhile, McLaren's Lando Norris appeared poised for a strong showing after beating Verstappen's first-sector time, but he was forced to abort his lap.
Rounding out the top ten in FP2 were Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, Isac Hadjar, and Esteban Ocon, as the field prepared for the high-stakes qualifying sessions ahead.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.