What happened in F1 2026 Azerbaijan GP first practice

Recent coverage from outlets including the BBC, Yahoo Sports, The New York Times, ESPN, Formula 1, and The Race details the opening practice sessions for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. During the track activity, Mercedes driver George Russell recorded the fastest times. The team secured a strong position on the timesheets, with teammate Kimi Antonelli also showing prominent pace during the running. However, the sessions were not entirely without incident for the team, as Kimi Antonelli was forced to stop his car directly on the track due to a hydraulic leak. Reporting from Yahoo Sports and other outlets emphasizes the competitive gaps established during the sessions, alongside a notable incident involving Lewis Hamilton.

Coverage notes that Hamilton faced the race stewards following a dangerous close call on the circuit. The New York Times and Formula 1 provided live updates tracking both first practice (FP1) and second practice (FP2) sessions, capturing how the field sorted itself out on the Baku street circuit. ESPN and The Race further documented the unfolding events, highlighting Russell's ability to create a significant time gap over competitors while leading Antonelli to a Mercedes one-two finish in the second practice session, which also featured Max Verstappen among the front-runners. The context provided by the media establishes that these events took place during the initial practice phases of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Baku street circuits traditionally present unique challenges regarding car reliability, driver positioning, and close-quarters traffic management, which directly contributed to the reported close calls and mechanical issues.

The early performance indicators from these sessions offer a preliminary look at team competitiveness at this specific venue, setting the stage for subsequent on-track sessions as teams gather crucial telemetry data. As the Grand Prix weekend progresses, coverage does not yet specify the final decisions made by the stewards regarding Lewis Hamilton's reported close call, nor does it detail the full extent of the repairs needed for Kimi Antonelli's car following the hydraulic leak. Observers and fans will need to monitor upcoming official announcements and subsequent practice or qualifying sessions to see how Mercedes addresses the mechanical setback and how the stewards rule on the reported incidents on the Baku track.