George Russell completed a Friday clean sweep at the Baku City Circuit, setting the fastest time in Free Practice 2 for the 2026 FIA Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a best lap of 1:43.347s, leading Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 0.552s in a session interrupted by a red flag for Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.
Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.827s off Russell’s benchmark, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completing the top five. Lando Norris finished sixth for McLaren, ahead of Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, and Isack Hadjar.
Antonelli’s participation was severely limited in the opening phase of the session after Mercedes replaced his engine following a hydraulic issue that had ended his Free Practice 1 running early. He completed just 15 laps by the end of the session, compared to Russell’s 23. Once on track, Antonelli climbed to second overall, aided in part by a slipstream from Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto during his quickest run.
The session’s primary disruption came when Lindblad carried too much speed through the tight Turn 8 section, clipping the barrier and making further contact on the uphill exit. The red flags were deployed, though the Racing Bulls driver emerged from the car unhurt. Lindblad completed only four laps across the entire session and finished 18th with a best time of 1:46.391s.
Before the stoppage, Verstappen had traded fastest laps with Russell and Norris during the early soft-tyre runs. The Red Bull driver reported dissatisfaction with his car’s balance, describing the rear axle lifting off the ground and requiring constant counter-steering. Verstappen ultimately settled 0.827s behind Russell at session’s end.
There were further incidents throughout the afternoon. Lance Stroll brushed the wall at Turn 15, Liam Lawson had a close moment at Turn 2, Hadjar locked up heavily at Turn 1, Esteban Ocon ran into the Turn 15 escape road, and Norris made light contact with the wall at Turn 16. Hadjar had also required a gearbox change following FP1, while McLaren ran visible temporary repairs on the floor assemblies of both its cars.
Long-run data gathered during the session’s closing phase suggested that tyres could remain usable over extended stints around Baku, a factor that may influence race strategy. Russell heads into Saturday’s qualifying having set the pace in both practice sessions, with Verstappen and Ferrari remaining within striking distance as teams shift focus toward qualifying preparation.