George Russell of Mercedes led both practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Thursday, with McLaren’s Lando Norris stating his team is out of contention for pole position. Norris described McLaren’s pace as ‘pretty pants’ after finishing over 1.4 seconds adrift of Russell in the second practice session.
Russell set a benchmark of 1m43.347s in Free Practice 2 at the Baku City Circuit, with teammate Kimi Antonelli securing second place, 0.552 seconds behind.
Norris, who was 1.5 seconds slower than Russell in FP2, indicated that the slow-speed 90-degree corners of the Baku City Circuit do not suit the MCL40.
McLaren introduced a significant upgrade package for Baku, including new sidepods, an engine cover, a diffuser, and a revised floor edge.
The team also brought modified rear suspension fairings and a rear wing adjusted for ‘Straight Mode’ to reduce drag.
Despite these eight new items, McLaren chief technical officer Rob Marshall noted it was ‘early days’ and the team needed to learn how to dial in the new parts.
Norris is currently fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, 106 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
He has secured two victories and three pole positions in the last four races, including wins in Hungary and the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mercedes demonstrated strong underlying car performance, particularly in straight-line efficiency, which is crucial on Baku’s 2.2-kilometre main straight.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord, however, cautioned against reading too much into their significant 0.8-second advantage, citing differing run plans among frontrunners.
Antonelli faced a hydraulics leak in FP1 and required an engine change before FP2, limiting his track time.
Despite these disruptions, Antonelli recovered to finish second in FP2, half a second off Russell.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull was Mercedes’ closest challenger, finishing third in FP2, over eight tenths behind Russell.
Red Bull also brought a five-part upgrade package to Baku, which team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed would be their last significant update for the 2026 season.
The team has shifted a substantial portion of its resources towards the 2027 car development.
Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s teammate for 2027, returned to action in Baku after missing three races due to a wrist injury.
Hadjar also experienced a power unit issue in FP1, further limiting his running.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth respectively in FP2.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the SF-26 struggled with balance and tyre performance during Thursday’s sessions.
The team did not introduce any new aerodynamic components for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s power unit deficit and an unoptimised hybrid deployment strategy continue to present limitations.
The Baku City Circuit is a 6.003 km street circuit with 20 turns, known for its long straights and tight sections, including the 7.6-meter-wide Old Town complex.
The circuit features ‘Straight Mode’ zones to reduce drag and ‘Overtake Mode’ for a temporary electrical power boost.
Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled for Friday at 1pm local time, with the race on Saturday at 12pm.
