Russell Leads Practice in Azerbaijan Amidst Antonelli's Glitch
Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli encountered a hydraulic issue.
George Russell of Mercedes topped the timing sheets in the first practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Russell's fastest lap was four-tenths of a second quicker than Verstappen's.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured third and fourth positions, respectively, closely following Verstappen's pace. Neither Ferrari nor Red Bull utilized soft-compound tires during the session, as teams focused on varied programs to commence the race weekend.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who had been fastest in the early running on hard tires, finished fifth. Antonelli's session was cut short when his car stopped on track with a hydraulic leak on his first lap with soft tires, losing him valuable track time and leaving him with work to do in the second practice session. He ended the session 0.878 seconds behind Russell's best time.
