Mercedes Dominates Early Baku Sessions
Mercedes has made a strong start to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, with George Russell demonstrating impressive pace by topping both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 sessions. Russell’s fastest lap in FP2 was a 1m43.347s, showcasing the team’s potential on the Baku street circuit [1]. This performance aligns with expectations that the Baku circuit’s characteristics are well-suited to the Mercedes car [2]. Russell had also set the fastest lap in the first free practice session, ahead of competitors like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc [3].
While Russell enjoyed a smooth start, teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced an early challenge. During FP1, Antonelli’s Mercedes suffered a suspected hydraulic leak, causing him to stop on track and miss a significant portion of the session [3]. Despite this mechanical issue, Antonelli, who was fifth fastest in the first practice session before the problem, showed resilience to recover. He is expected to race in Baku [2] and proved his capability by securing the second-fastest time in FP2, contributing to a Mercedes 1-2 [1]. This early showing suggests Mercedes could be a strong contender for the weekend.
Antonelli’s Resurgence and Past Challenges
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s performance in Baku comes after a period of significant personal and professional growth. The young driver has recently found strong form, securing his first race win and pole position in 2026, which he described as taking a lot of weight off his shoulders [4]. This turnaround follows a challenging period, particularly his difficult 2025 season, which was impacted by a heavy crash at Monza during his first F1 Grand Prix weekend in 2024. That incident, a heavy crash at Monza, stayed with him for a long time and slowed him down [4].
Antonelli has openly discussed how a significant mental shift has contributed to his improved performance and championship lead in 2026, highlighting key turning points at Silverstone and overcoming a crash in Australia [4]. His ability to bounce back from the FP1 hydraulic issue in Baku and secure a strong P2 in FP2 further underscores his renewed confidence and skill. Meanwhile, teammate George Russell has admitted to struggling with the new cars in 2026, finding that his driving style does not suit them as well [4]. This contrast in recent form could set up an interesting dynamic within the Mercedes team as the season progresses.
What it means
Mercedes currently sits atop the Formula 1 World Championship standings, holding a commanding 503 points from 14 races. Their impressive record of 10 wins and no losses or draws highlights their dominance this season. The strong practice performances in Baku, with George Russell leading both sessions and Andrea Kimi Antonelli securing a 1-2 in FP2 despite an earlier mechanical setback, indicate that Mercedes is well-positioned to continue their winning streak. The team’s consistent form suggests they are likely to extend their championship lead in Azerbaijan. The next fixture will be crucial for solidifying their advantage, and based on their current performance, Mercedes is expected to deliver another strong result.
Sources
- Autosport: F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell tops FP2 from Antonelli as Lindblad crashes autosport.com ↩
- BBC Sport: F1: Chequered Flag bbc.co.uk ↩
- Autosport: F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fastest in first practice as Antonelli's Mercedes breaks down autosport.com ↩
- BBC Sport: The moment Antonelli knew he had been transformed as an F1 driver bbc.co.uk ↩