13:27
Aston Martin faces more grid penalties this weekend. But at least its social media team is on point with the snaps today!
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 2026 Azerbaijan GP
© XPB Images
F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice as it happened
Live updates from Thursday's practices at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Baku
KEY MOMENTS
- Russell fastest in FP2
- New engine for Antonelli
- Russell fastest in FP1
The 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship takes place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku street circuit.
This weekend’s race at Baku marks the beginning of a frantic run to the end of the campaign, with three triple-headers scheduled between now and 6 December.
The Azerbaijan race, which first featured on the calendar in 2016, has become a popular fixture during a season for its generally chaotic races.
Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds a commanding lead in the championship, following back-to-back victories at Monza and Madrid.
He is now 81 points clear of the field, with team-mate George Russell his nearest rival in runner-up spot currently.
Mercedes has won three times at Baku, though not since 2019 with Valtteri Bottas. But the power-demanding track is likely to favour the Mercedes engine.
Red Bull has been dominant at Baku, winning four of the last five races in Azerbaijan, but comes to the grand prix this season still chasing a first victory in 2026.
The Red Bull Ford power unit performed well at Monza and Spa, both tracks where a strong engine is important.
Red Bull returns to full strength this weekend, after Isack Hadjar was cleared to race following a hand injury that ruled him out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.
Ferrari comes to Baku looking to end its recent podium drought, with the Scuderia not appearing on a rostrum since the Belgian Grand Prix.
Carrying a recently updated power unit, there is a feeling that Ferrari could be a contender at Baku, though much will depend on improving its recent struggles with race management.
McLaren will also be hoping to benefit from its Mercedes power unit to build on its win from 2024 with Oscar Piastri.
This year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix is being staged from Thursday to Saturday, instead of the traditional Friday-Sunday format.
This is due to the country’s Remembrance Day on Sunday.
Azerbaijan GP Thursday schedule
FP1 - 9:30am BST - 10:30am BST
FP2 - 1pm BST - 2pm BST
24 Sep 2026
13:24
Another angle from the Lindblad crash.
13:22
The aftermath of Linblad's crash 💥
13:22
While we wait for the session to restart, here is the order with 39 minutes to go:
- Verstappen
- Russell
- Norris
- Hamilton
- Hadjar
- Leclerc
- Piastri
- Gasly
- Lawson
- Lindblad
- Bortoleto
- Colapinto
- Bearman
- Perez
- Ocon
- Sainz
- Albon
- Hulkenberg
- Alonso
- Bottas
- Stroll
- Antonelli
13:20
Lindblad absolutely smacked the wall at the castle section. He's out of the car, but that will be his session over.
13:19
Red flag
The red flag is out due to an incident for Arvid Lindblad.
13:18
Hadjar had a massive lock-up into Turn 1, which briefly brought out a yellow flag.
13:17
Hamilton goes fourth overall with a 1m45.249s on the medium tyre. 0.7s gap to Verstappen on the same tyre at this stage.
13:15
Lewis Hamilton ran on at Turn 1, while Liam Lawson was lucky to stay out of the Turn 2 barrier.
13:12
Russell goes fastest with a 1m44.537s on a set of medium tyres.
13:12
Verstappen is complaining that he's constantly fighting his car because it feels like the rear is lifting. Still making it work for him at this stage.
13:11
Charles Leclerc is up to third in the Ferrari on medium tyres.
13:10
No sign of Antonelli yet.
13:09
But Verstappen, on mediums, goes quicker again with a 1m45.115s.
13:09
Lando Norris has taken a set of hard tyres to a 1m45.184s to go fastest. That's a strong lap, 0.7s clear of the field.
13:07
Verstappen is complaining that the ride in his Red Bull is... not very good (that wasn't the phrase he used, but it wasn't broadcast-able).
13:05
Max Verstappen is now top with a 1m45.933s. He's out on medium tyres, as is Russell.
13:04
Meanwhile, Russell is fastest with a 1m46.300s.
13:04
Mercedes has clarified that the engine that was taken out of Antonelli's car was from his existing pool and just needs to be cleaned. Can be used again.
13:01
Colapinto has already run on at Turn 2 on his outlap.
13:00
FP2 - Green flag
Pitlane is open for the start of FP2. This session is also an hour long.
13:00
Isack Hadjar also has a new gearbox in his Red Bull.
13:00
Antonelli - engine change
According to Ted Kravitz, Mercedes has had to change the power unit in Kimi Antonelli's car due to it being hosed down by a fire marshal in FP1 when he stopped.
12:57
Conditions don't look to have changed very much since FP1, with wind still very low.
12:56
Five minutes until FP2 starts.