George Russell was quickest in first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, putting the Mercedes driver ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Baku.
The opening session took place on the Baku street circuit as teams began preparing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Russell led the early running, with Verstappen recording the next-fastest time.
The session was also interrupted by an incident involving Antonelli, who stopped on track. No further details about the reason for the stoppage or its effect on the session were provided.
Russell’s pace gives Mercedes an early indication of its competitiveness in Azerbaijan, although the result came during only the first practice session and does not determine the outcome of qualifying or the race. Further running will provide teams with additional opportunities to assess their performance before the Grand Prix.
