Russell fastest in Azerbaijan FP1 as Antonelli suffers issue

George Russell set the pace in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, clocking a 1m 45.387s lap to lead Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. The session at the Baku City Circuit proved challenging with dusty, slippery track conditions and several mechanical issues reported across the grid. Kimi Antonelli showed strong pace early on but was forced to end his session early due to a hydraulic failure, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz faced a difficult start when his updated Williams suffered a rear brake fire, and Isack Hadjar struggled with power unit issues. Other drivers, including Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, also lost valuable track time due to technical setbacks as the teams navigated the tight street circuit.