George Russell set the pace in the second practice session (FP2) of the 2026 Formula 1® Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading a strong Mercedes 1-2 finish ahead of teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The session, held on Thursday due to a national holiday on Sunday, showcased Mercedes’ competitive speed on the demanding Baku street circuit.
Russell posted the fastest lap of FP2 with a time of 1:43.347, finishing 0.552 seconds clear of Antonelli. The Silver Arrows demonstrated solid pace through the power-hungry layout, securing the top two positions. Max Verstappen was third fastest, more than eight-tenths behind Russell, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
The session was interrupted by a red flag after 20 minutes when Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad crashed into the wall at the narrow Turn 9 castle section. After the track was cleared and running resumed, Oliver Bearman experienced a power unit failure, limiting his track time. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso completed only nine laps before Aston Martin had to park his car due to a suspected oil leak.
McLaren introduced a notable upgrade package during the session, but Lando Norris was still 1.5 seconds off the pace, having not completed a full qualifying simulation. Other drivers involved in the session included Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar, Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, and Valtteri Bottas, representing teams such as Alpine, Haas, Aston Martin, Cadillac, Audi, and Williams.
The FP2 session’s results underline Mercedes’ strong showing on the Baku streets, with Russell and Antonelli comfortably ahead of the field. The interruptions caused by Lindblad’s crash and mechanical issues for Bearman and Alonso affected some teams’ running plans. Verstappen’s third place time kept Red Bull Racing within reach, though still behind the Mercedes pace.
Thursday’s practice was part of the weekend’s adjusted schedule, with the race set for Saturday to accommodate a national holiday on Sunday. The session provided teams with valuable data on car performance and highlighted some reliability concerns that could influence preparations for the race.
Overall, the FP2 session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix demonstrated Mercedes’ current pace advantage on a power-sensitive circuit, while several teams faced challenges that limited their running. The session’s incidents and technical issues will be factors to monitor as the weekend progresses.