George Russell leads first practice at Azerbaijan GP; Antonelli's car fails
Autosport • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 24, 2026, 9:35 AM
Last updated Sep 24, 2026
George Russell set the fastest time in first practice at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 24, clocking a lap of 1m45.387s. His Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, encountered mechanical issues and had to leave the session early. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc followed Russell in the standings as the one-hour session progressed with about 20 minutes remaining. The next practice will provide further opportunities for teams to adjust their setups ahead of qualifying.
- •George Russell sets fastest lap at Azerbaijan GP practice
- •Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes experiences breakdown
- •Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc complete top three
- •Next practice session will follow the conclusion of this one
- •Session ongoing as teams assess performance
- 9:35 AMAutosport — F1 Azerbaijan GP: Russell fastest in first practice as Antonelli's Mercedes breaks down
"Mercedes driver George Russell led Max Verstappen in first free practice at Formula 1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli hit trouble. Russell's 1m45.387s lap, set with 20 minutes to go in the one-hour session, was comfortably enough to hold off the competition as his Mercedes team-mate disappeared from the session early, with Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounding out the top ...Keep reading
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