Russell fastest in Baku as Antonelli stops on track

George Russell set the fastest time at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.4 seconds. Russell, who trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 81 points in the standings, was ahead of Verstappen in the timing sheets. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed in third and fourth, each within 0.4 seconds of Russell's pace and behind Verstappen. Neither Ferrari car ran the soft‑compound tyre, as both teams used varied programmes during the session. Antonelli, currently fifth fastest overall, was unable to complete a lap on the soft tyres after stopping on track with a hydraulic leak. He recorded a time 0.878 seconds slower than Russell's best, but was the quickest driver on the hard compound during the early running. Antonelli's car halted at Turn One on his first lap on the soft tyres, with smoke visible from the cooling vents. The stoppage meant he missed roughly half of the session and will need to make up ground in the later running.