10:06
Hulkenberg uses a nice slipstream from his Audi team-mate to jump up to sixth. Looked like a bit of a dress rehearsal for qualifying tomorrow.
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
10:05
Verstappen has finally hooked up a lap on the soft tyres and goes top with a 1m45.787s, while Russell is second on a 1m46.261s.
10:04
McLaren was having a look at some potential damage on Piastri's car, though the team found nothing.
10:03
Bortoleto has gone straight at Turn 10.
10:03
Verstappen aborts another push lap after running wide. Been a bit scrappy for the Red Bull driver on the soft tyre.
10:02
McLaren is asking Piastri to box to check something on the car.
10:00
Very late decision from Russell, there. He was already turning in when he decided to bail as he snatched a brake.
10:00
Russell nearly crashed on the run down to Turn 3! He was on a push lap on new soft tyres and chucks it down the escape road.
Max Verstappen has gone off at Turn 1 too.
09:58
Mercedes has a big job on this afternoon to get the car ready for FP2.
09:58
Green flag
The VSC has been withdrawn.
09:55
Antonelli stops on track
It's championship leader Kimi Antonelli who has stopped on track!
"I've lot hydraulics".
09:54
Virtual Safety Car
The Virtual Safety car has been deployed for an incident on track at Turn 7.
09:54
Here's a look at the Sainz brake fire.
09:52
Lots of work going on in the Williams garage on Sainz's car after that brake fire.
Williams has a big upgrade package in Baku, which it really needs to be getting mileage on.
09:49
Hadjar is told "just stay in second gear and box, box."
09:48
"Something is really wrong; the engine is broken."
More issues for Hadjar.
09:47
Kimi Antonelli has gone fastest with a 1m46.265s. Lots of track clean-up going on just now.
09:45
I was mid-update when that Williams fire happened. So, I'll go back to what I was saying:
Audi will be one to watch this weekend as it has unleashed arguably the biggest upgrade package of any team all season.
Bortoleto has already been out with an aero rake fitted to his car.
09:44
Williams brake fire
Not a good start to Williams' morning. Carlos Sainz' right rear brake is on fire in pitlane!
The team looks to have gotten that under control, but that's less than ideal.
09:43
Verstappen has improved again to a 1m46.512s.
09:43
Expecting to see a lot of overtaking on this straight comes Saturday.
09:42
Albon now complaining that his brakes are feeling odd in the Williams.
09:41
After 10 minutes of running, the order is:
- Verstappen
- Russell
- Leclerc
- Hadjar
- Piastri
- Hulkenberg
- Hamilton
- Lawson
- Norris
- Ocon
- Antonelli
- Perez
- Colapinto
- Bearman
- Albon
- Sainz
- Alonso
- Stroll
- Lindblad
- Bortoleto
- Bottas
- Gasly
09:39
Verstappen now back on top with a 1m46.635s.
09:38
Charles Leclerc is now fastest in the Ferrari with a 1m49.025s.