2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2: Highlights & Reaction

Welcome to Total-Motorsport.com for live coverage of FP2 at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP, as Formula 1 returns to the streets of Baku following an eventful opening practice session. George Russell set the early benchmark for Mercedes, but reliability problems for championship leader Kimi Antonelli and both McLaren drivers left several questions unanswered.

George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:45.387 for Mercedes, finishing exactly four tenths ahead of Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc was only 0.004 seconds behind the Red Bull Racing driver in third, with Lewis Hamilton another 0.033 seconds further back for Ferrari.

The headline times did not tell the entire story, as Leclerc and Hamilton set their quickest laps on the Medium tyre while Russell and Verstappen used the Soft. That leaves Ferrari’s true one-lap potential as one of the major questions heading into FP2 at 16:00 local time.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth despite his session ending after only around 25 minutes because of a hydraulic problem. Mercedes now face a race against time to return his car to full working order and recover the valuable running lost during FP1.

2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2 LIVE: Latest Updates

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RESULTS: How they finished in Baku

Good luck catching George Russell as the Mercedes star dominates the opening day of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend with a commanding Free Practice 2 showing.

The Brit is now the clear favourite for pole position on Friday.

Can he deliver?

Position	Driver	Team	Time
1	George Russell	Mercedes	1:43.347
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.552
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.827
4	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+1.126
5	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+1.318
6	Lando Norris	McLaren	+1.484
7	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.496
8	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+1.510
9	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	+1.521
10	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.943
11	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+2.132
12	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+2.334
13	Sergio Perez	Cadillac	+2.413
14	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+2.447
15	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+2.610
16	Alex Albon	Williams	+2.776
17	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+2.874
18	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	+3.044
19	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	+3.390
20	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+3.454
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+4.056
22	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+4.542

CHEQUERED FLAG: Mercedes impervious in Baku

Mercedes look a class above their rivals as the chequered flag is waved in Free Practice 2 with the Silver Arrows eight tenths ahead of Red Bull!

George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli by over half-a-second as he aims to keep his diminishing hopes of winning the Formula 1 title alive, whilst Max Verstappen slotted into third.

Ferrari are over a second behind Mercedes in the hands of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton whilst Lando Norris is simply unable to make an impression for McLaren.

The teams now enter a vital window to collect their data and make their set-up changes in the hope of finding more lap time but even if all of their rivals gain half-a-second, it won’t be enough.

5 minutes to go: A surprisingly clean Friday in Azerbaijan

It’s a testament to all of the drivers on the grid and the standard that they’re driving at that beyond the lock-ups and trips down escape roads, it has been a clean Friday in Baku.

The only driver to have been caught out is the only rookie on the grid, the 19-year-old Arvid Lindblad and even his accident wasn’t particularly huge.

Given Baku is known for punishing drivers, it’s a good sign for quality of the field!

13 minutes to go: Final efforts due up shortly

The drivers head into the pit lane to study their data, cool their cars and fill the fuel tanks to the desired level ahead of the final rush of laps in Free Practice 2.

Can Ferrari find some extra pace? they’re over a second away from Mercedes and their already slim chances of winning the constructors’ championship look set to slip over the horizon.

The team desperately needs a fast, consistent and clean weekend.

20 minutes to go: Mercedes commanding in Baku

The timing chart speaks for itself for those who had doubts about Mercedes’ true pace around the Baku City Circuit as George Russell smashes the times.

The Brit is over half-a-second up on his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen in third is over eight tenths off-the-pace! We haven’t seen those gaps since the Chinese GP!

Can they maintain this advantage?

Position	Driver	Team	Time
1	George Russell	Mercedes	1:43.347
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.552
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.827
4	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+1.126
5	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+1.318
6	Lando Norris	McLaren	+1.484
7	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.496
8	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+1.510
9	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	+1.521
10	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.943
11	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+2.132
12	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+2.334
13	Sergio Perez	Cadillac	+2.413
14	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+2.447
15	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+2.610
16	Alex Albon	Williams	+2.776
17	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+2.874
18	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	+3.044
19	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	+3.390
20	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+3.454
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+4.056
22	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+4.542

23 minutes to go: Fast runs inbound!

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell have all strapped on a set of the soft tyres so we can get to the most interesting part of Free Practice 2.

The qualifying simulation laps will be our best read into the pecking order ahead of Saturday’s Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP so will Mercedes edge out McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari?

Stay tuned!

27 minutes to go: Bearman stops!

Oliver Bearman has come to a stop at Turn 2 with an electronics failure on his Haas, with the power cutting out as soon as he exited the pit lane at the end of the red flag period.

He pulls over near a marshal post and that his afternoon over!

His Haas should be easy to move without too much disruption.

GREEN FLAG: 30 minutes to go: Session Resumes

The green flag is waved as the marshals clear up the incident caused by Arvid Lindblad’s crash and the session can officially now get back underway!

All of the teams had queued up in the pit lane anticipating the restart and now they have the confirmation from the FIA they can head back out to the Baku City Circuit.

The delay was good for Kimi Antonelli, who now has enough time to get back into the session without his rivals gaining further data over the championship leader.

RED FLAG – 40 minutes to go: Lindblad hits the wall

Charles Leclerc can relate to Arvid Lindblad’s crash as the Racing Bulls driver has just tagged the wall at the Castle Section of the Baku City Circuit!

His car bounces away from the barriers but has broken suspension and the loss of steering controls sees the 19-year-old veer into the wall before coming to a stop.

The red flag is thrown and all drivers are told to return to the pit lane as Max Verstappen leads the field with a 1:44.492.

Position	Driver	Team	Time
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	Leader
2	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.045
3	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.692
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.757
5	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	+0.970
6	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+1.320
7	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+1.486
8	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.624
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+1.782
10	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	+1.899
11	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+1.984
12	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+2.291
13	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+2.309
14	Sergio Perez	Cadillac	+2.351
15	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+2.364
16	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+2.383
17	Alex Albon	Williams	+2.569
18	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+2.953
19	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+3.397
20	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	+3.566
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+3.966
22	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	No Time

45 minutes to go: Lawson dodges the wall

Liam Lawson gets slightly wide on the entry of Turn 2 upon his return to Racing Bulls and has to catch a slight snap from his car to avoid hitting the wall!

Good car control from the New Zealander upon his return to the team after stepping in next to Max Verstappen for Isack Hadjar on a temporary basis.

Lance Stroll has a similar moment at Turn 15 for Aston Martin!

55 minutes to go: Verstappen delivers the early times

Max Verstappen is the early pacesetter for Red Bull as he delivers a 1:45.933 on the medium tyres to lead the Mercedes of George Russell by 0.367s.

McLaren’s Lando Norris is slots into third by 0.515s as the first times hit the board, with Oscar Piastri in sixth ahead of Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon in the Top 10.

Are Mercedes under pressure this weekend?

GREEN FLAG: Free Practice 2 begins with an early error!

Free Practice 2 is officially underway with the green light at the exit of the pit lane and Franco Colapinto would like to start the session again if he could.

The Alpine driver comes out of the pits and then goes straight on at Turn 2! There was no lock-up or signs of difficulty so it was a rather unusual one.

He continues on his way now.

Welcome back Isack and goodbye Yuki!

Isack Hadjar is back in the Red Bull seat for the Azerbaijan GP, returning after missing the Dutch GP, Italian GP and Spanish GP with his wrist injury.

New Zealand’s Liam Lawson had been promoted to Red Bull in his stead and performed well across the stretch, but he has now moved back to Racing Bulls.

That means Yuki Tsunoda returns to his reserve role and is no longer on the grid.

The Kimi Antonelli question heading into FP2

Kimi Antonelli leads the Formula 1 standings by 81 points and has had the beating of his teammate George Russell for virtually every race since the Australian GP.

Whilst Russell topped Free Practice 1 by four tenths, he did benefit from the tow. So is the Mercedes advantage smaller than it looks, or can
Antonelli go even faster?

He suffered a hydraulics issue that caused him to stop in FP1 and there is currently work still ongoing on the Italian’s car heading into FP2.

How does FP2 work?

FP2 (Free Practice 2) is the second practice session of the Formula 1 weekend, normally lasting 60 minutes. Teams use it to build on what they learned in FP1, with a greater focus on understanding race pace, tyre behavior and potential qualifying performance.

The important thing to remember FP2 is generally more informative than FP1, but the timing sheet still doesn’t tell the whole story because teams can be running different fuel loads and engine modes.

During FP2, teams typically split their running into different programs:

• Tyre testing: Drivers run different compounds to understand grip and degradation.
• Long runs: Heavier fuel loads simulate race conditions and help teams estimate race pace.
• Qualifying simulations: Low-fuel runs on soft tyres give an indication of one-lap performance.
• Setup work: Teams make changes to improve the car based on what they learned in FP1.

Welcome to the Blog!

Free Practice 2 is almost underway at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and it looks as though it could be a competitive field between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

Although George Russell’s 1:45.387 topped the times by four tenths, the Brit was helped by a significant tow on the run to Turn 1 on his fastest lap so the gap may be smaller.

Can Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton eat into the deficit?

Russell sets the pace after strong opening session

Russell immediately put himself at the centre of the Azerbaijan GP weekend by producing the fastest lap of FP1. His 1:45.387 came with around 20 minutes remaining and was helped by a tow along Baku’s enormous main straight.

The British driver had earlier run deep into the Turn 3 escape road as drivers searched for the braking limit on a dusty and slippery circuit. He recovered without damage and quickly returned to competitive running before moving to the top of the timesheets.

FP2 should provide a more representative indication of Russell’s genuine advantage because teams are expected to move towards lower-fuel qualifying simulations and longer race runs. The changing track surface and different tyre programmes made the opening session particularly difficult to interpret.

Russell enters the weekend 81 points behind Antonelli in the championship and needs a strong result if he is to keep meaningful pressure on his teammate. Starting Thursday at the top of the timesheets was therefore an encouraging first step.

Antonelli loses valuable running with hydraulic failure

Antonelli’s FP1 began positively before the championship leader suffered the most significant problem of the leading contenders. He had moved fastest with a 1:46.265 before reporting a hydraulic issue and pulling into an escape road near the Old City section.

A Virtual Safety Car was required while the Mercedes was recovered, and Antonelli did not return to the circuit. His early lap remained good enough for fifth even as rivals switched tyres and improved later in the hour.

The lost mileage places extra importance on FP2 because Antonelli still needs to complete much of the setup work normally spread across both Thursday sessions. Baku rewards driver confidence, and missing half of FP1 limits his opportunity to build rhythm around the walls and heavy braking zones.

Mercedes will also need to establish the cause of the hydraulic problem before sending the championship leader back out. Another interruption in FP2 would significantly compromise preparations ahead of FP3 and Qualifying on Friday.

Ferrari pace catches the eye on Medium tyres

Leclerc and Hamilton may have produced the most intriguing performance of FP1 despite finishing third and fourth. Both Ferrari drivers set their fastest laps on Medium tyres rather than the Soft compound used by the two drivers ahead.

Leclerc’s 1:45.791 was only 0.404 seconds behind Russell, while Hamilton followed with a 1:45.824. Their pace suggests Ferrari could have considerably more to offer when they move onto the C5 Soft during qualifying simulations.

Baku has traditionally been one of Leclerc’s strongest circuits over a single lap, and the Monegasque again looked immediately comfortable around the street layout. The combination of confidence under braking and precision through the narrow Old City section can be especially valuable here.

Hamilton was similarly close and will enter FP2 with an opportunity to confirm whether the SF-26 genuinely belongs in the fight at the front. Ferrari’s long-run pace will be just as important, with tyre temperatures and energy deployment likely to become major themes during the final part of the session.

Verstappen starts strongly but Red Bull have work to do

Verstappen ended FP1 second after briefly becoming the first driver to break into the 1:45s. His 1:45.787 left him 0.400 seconds behind Russell and only four thousandths ahead of Leclerc.

The Dutchman also ran into the Turn 1 escape road during the opening session but avoided any contact with the barriers. That was typical of an FP1 in which several drivers tested the limits of Baku’s demanding braking zones.

Red Bull Racing have brought updates to Azerbaijan as they attempt to improve both performance and reliability. FP2 will give Verstappen a clearer opportunity to assess those changes once the circuit carries more rubber and the team begins more representative running.

The second car had a much more difficult opening hour, with Isack Hadjar finishing only 20th on his return from injury. Hadjar complained that his brakes were pulling to one side before a power-unit issue further restricted his running.

Hadjar faces important FP2 after difficult comeback

Hadjar returned to the Red Bull Racing cockpit in Baku after missing the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix because of a wrist injury. His comeback session was immediately complicated by technical problems that prevented him from completing a normal programme.

The Frenchman initially reported inconsistent braking before his running was further affected by a power-unit issue. He eventually recorded only the 20th-fastest time, ahead of Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas.

FP2 is therefore particularly important because Hadjar needs both circuit mileage and physical feedback after three weekends away from competition. Rebuilding confidence around Baku is difficult enough without the added complication of an interrupted opening session.

Red Bull Racing will hope the problems can be resolved before the green light at 16:00. Clean running would allow Hadjar to move away from simple acclimatisation and begin contributing more meaningful setup information alongside Verstappen.

McLaren endure disrupted FP1 in Baku

Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren, but his session was interrupted after he reported vibrations during the opening stages. The team spent time working on his car in the garage before returning him to the track.

Lando Norris suffered an even more frustrating session and completed limited running because of a separate issue. The British driver finished only 14th with a 1:46.981 and did not get a representative picture of the MCL40’s potential.

That makes FP2 particularly important for a team that arrived in Baku hoping to challenge Mercedes after strong performances in recent rounds. McLaren have also introduced several updates this weekend, increasing the value of clean data from both cars.

The revised package includes changes around the sidepods, floor, diffuser and rear suspension fairings, alongside circuit-specific adaptations for Baku. FP2 should offer the first proper opportunity to judge whether those developments have moved the car forward.

Racing Bulls impress with both cars in top eight

Liam Lawson made a strong return to Racing Bulls by finishing seventh in FP1. Arvid Lindblad followed in eighth, putting both cars firmly inside the top 10.

The opening session was not entirely straightforward for Lindblad, who ran into the Turn 7 escape road during the final minutes and had to reverse before rejoining. That incident contributed to a second Virtual Safety Car period as several problems unfolded almost simultaneously around the circuit.

Despite the interruption, the early pace gives Racing Bulls an encouraging platform for FP2. Baku can reward cars with strong straight-line efficiency, and the team’s performance suggests its package may be well suited to the circuit.

The midfield remains extremely close, however, and Thursday afternoon should provide a much clearer indication once fuel loads and tyre programmes begin to converge. Maintaining both cars near the top 10 would represent a strong start to the weekend.

Audi running interrupted late in FP1

Gabriel Bortoleto completed the FP1 top 10 for Audi, while Nico Hulkenberg finished 11th. The team showed competitive midfield pace before Hulkenberg’s session ended with his car stopping near the exit of Turn 4.

The stricken Audi appeared as Lindblad was recovering from his Turn 7 excursion, contributing to the late VSC period. Engineers will now need to establish what caused the stoppage before FP2 begins.

Bortoleto’s top-10 position at least provided evidence that there is performance available in the car. Baku’s long straights place a premium on low drag, something that could help determine the midfield order throughout the weekend.

The team will want both cars completing longer runs during FP2 after the late interruption reduced available data. Reliability will matter just as much as outright pace before the focus moves towards Qualifying.

Williams begin upgrade evaluation outside top 10

Carlos Sainz finished 12th for Williams, with teammate Alex Albon immediately behind in 13th. Only 0.046 seconds separated the pair during the opening session.

Williams are running an upgrade package in Baku that has been planned for several months. FP1 was therefore focused as much on validating the new components as chasing outright lap time.

FP2 should give engineers more useful information once the track becomes cleaner and the team moves towards representative setup work. Baku should theoretically reward the straight-line efficiency that has frequently been one of the Williams package’s strengths.

The team sit only a handful of points away from Audi in the Constructors’ Championship, making every incremental improvement important. A strong weekend in Azerbaijan could therefore have implications beyond the immediate midfield fight.

Dusty track leaves plenty of performance to find

FP1 began with the Baku circuit visibly dusty and slippery, forcing drivers to approach the first laps cautiously. Grip improved steadily throughout the hour as more rubber was deposited onto the racing line.

That evolution should continue during FP2 and means the afternoon lap times are likely to fall significantly. Drivers can begin attacking braking zones more confidently once the surface provides greater consistency.

New asphalt around Turns 2, 3 and 4 adds another variable because grip levels can differ between resurfaced and older sections. Teams will continue adjusting brake balance and suspension settings as their understanding improves.

The greater grip available in FP2 should also make qualifying simulations more meaningful. FP1 established a baseline, but the second session should provide the first serious indication of the competitive order.

Soft tyre simulations set to reveal true pace

One of the biggest questions from FP1 concerns Ferrari, whose drivers remained within half a second of Russell despite using the Medium tyre. Switching to the Soft in FP2 could place Leclerc and Hamilton at or near the top of the timesheets.

Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and McLaren will also use low-fuel runs to refine their preparations for Friday’s Qualifying session. Baku’s long lap means drivers receive fewer attempts than at shorter circuits, increasing the importance of executing each run cleanly.

Slipstreaming will complicate comparisons because a tow along the main straight can deliver a substantial lap-time advantage. Russell’s FP1 benchmark benefited from precisely that effect, demonstrating why the timing screens need to be interpreted carefully.

Traffic management will consequently become increasingly important as drivers search for clear air through the technical sectors while still trying to pick up a tow on the straights. That balance could become one of the defining themes of Qualifying.

Long-run pace takes centre stage later in FP2

The closing stages of FP2 should shift towards higher-fuel runs as teams gather their first substantial race data of the weekend. The Medium tyre is expected to feature prominently because Baku’s relatively smooth surface generally produces modest degradation.

Rear tyre temperature remains important when drivers accelerate from the numerous slow corners, but cooling can become an equally significant challenge along the lengthy straights. That creates a very different tyre profile from circuits dominated by continuous cornering.

Energy management will also come under greater scrutiny during longer stints. The 2026 power units make electrical deployment especially significant on a circuit with such an enormous full-throttle section.

Teams need to understand not simply how fast their cars are over one lap but how consistently they can deploy energy across a race stint. FP2 provides the best opportunity to gather that information before Saturday’s Grand Prix.

Wind remains major Baku variable

Conditions are expected to remain warm and dry through FP2, but Baku’s characteristic wind remains a concern. Gusts from the Caspian Sea can change rapidly and have a significant effect on cars approaching braking zones at high speed.

A headwind can shorten braking distances and increase downforce, while a sudden tailwind can produce exactly the opposite effect. Drivers therefore need to retain some margin even as grip improves.

The effect is especially noticeable when cars move between enclosed city streets and more exposed sections of the circuit. Conditions that feel stable on one lap may change considerably by the next.

That unpredictability is part of what makes Baku so demanding. FP2 should offer another hour for drivers to identify where the wind is most likely to upset the car.

What to watch in Azerbaijan GP FP2

• Russell’s attempt to remain fastest after topping FP1
• Antonelli’s return after suffering a hydraulic problem
• Mercedes’ efforts to recover the championship leader’s lost mileage
• Verstappen’s pace after finishing second in the opening session
• Leclerc and Hamilton’s Soft tyre pace after setting FP1 times on Mediums
• Hadjar’s recovery after brake and power-unit problems on his return
• Piastri’s running after vibrations interrupted FP1
• Norris’ attempt to recover from a heavily disrupted opening session
• McLaren’s evaluation of its Baku upgrade package
• Lawson and Lindblad’s pace for Racing Bulls
• Hulkenberg’s return after stopping late in FP1
• Williams’ continued assessment of its upgrade package
• Soft tyre qualifying simulations
• Long-run pace on higher fuel
• Slipstream effects along Baku’s main straight
• Electrical energy deployment during longer runs
• Front tyre temperatures before heavy braking zones
• Track evolution on the dusty street surface
• Wind gusts around exposed areas of the circuit
• Traffic management during low-fuel runs

With Russell fastest in FP1, Verstappen close behind and the two Ferrari drivers showing impressive pace on the harder tyre, the battle at the front remains far from settled. Antonelli’s hydraulic problem and McLaren’s disrupted opening session add further uncertainty as teams prepare for a more representative second hour of running.

FP2 begins at 16:00 local time and should provide the clearest picture yet of qualifying and race pace around the Baku City Circuit. Stay with Total-Motorsport.com for live lap times, Soft tyre simulations, long-run pace, technical updates and all the key moments from FP2 at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP.