Russell Tops Opening Azerbaijan Practice, Car Trouble Sidelines Antonelli
- On Thursday, Mercedes driver George Russell led opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, topping the session by 0.400 seconds from Max Verstappen as championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished fifth after reporting a hydraulic failure.
- With the race held on Saturday to accommodate a national holiday, Thursday's first practice at the Baku city circuit got off to a cautious start; the slippery street layout proved dusty, prompting drivers to take measured approach early.
- Max Verstappen secured second place ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in third, while Carlos Sainz finished 12th after his upgraded Williams suffered brake overheating that cost him significant track time.
- McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris endured a messy session with damage requiring checks, while Liam Lawson returned to Racing Bulls and took seventh, ahead of rookie Arvid Lindblad in eighth.
- Multiple teams tested significant updates; McLaren trialled new sidepods and diffuser, while Williams debuted its long-awaited upgrade package as late efforts were thwarted by Nico Hulkenberg's Turn 4 issue triggering a second virtual safety car.
78 Articles
78 Articles
Russell tops opening Azerbaijan practice, car trouble sidelines Antonelli
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept 24 : George Russell set the pace for Mercedes in Thursday’s opening Formula One practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as teammate and runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli parked up with car trouble.The Briton lapped the 6km Baku street track in one minute, 45.387 second
The Englishman George Russell (Mercedes) - second in the championship- marked the best time this Thursday in the first free training for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 15th of the Formula One World Championship, which is contested in the Baku urban circuit. At the best of his 24 laps, Russell covered the 6,003 meters of [...] The entry Russell dominates Baku's first free ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc was first published in HolaNews.
The Independent
The Independent (US)George Russell takes advantage as Kimi Antonelli struggles in practice in Baku
The Briton is 81 points behind Antonelli in the championship standings.
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