The opening practice session for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit saw Red Bull Racing dominate the early timing sheets, posting the fastest lap of the day at 1:40.842. Max Verstappen, who qualified on pole for the 2023 event, topped the session with a clean run that hinted at his intent to defend his position heading into the sprint race on Saturday.
Mercedes, however, turned the tables in the second practice on Sunday morning. Lewis Hamilton edged out his teammate George Russell to claim the session’s quickest time of 1:41.019, a narrow margin that underscored the German team's improving pace on the high‑speed straight‑line sections of the circuit. The session was marked by a brief red‑flag after a loose drain cover forced the track to be cleared, but both teams managed to extract valuable data on tyre degradation and brake cooling.
Ferrari struggled to find rhythm in the early part of the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both ending the second practice outside the top ten. Their lap times were hampered by a lack of clear air and a conservative setup aimed at preserving tyre life for the sprint qualifying later on. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly posted solid mid‑field times, suggesting that the French squad could be a dark horse for the sprint race if they can translate practice pace into race performance.
For Indian fans, the practice sessions were broadcast live on FanCode with commentary tailored for the local audience. The first practice kicked off at 09:30 IST, while the second session started at 13:30 IST. Both sessions were also streamed on the official Formula 1 app, which offers a free live feed for viewers in India. The sprint qualifying will take place on Saturday at 12:00 IST, followed by the sprint race at 15:00 IST, and the main Grand Prix on Sunday at 13:00 IST.
Overall, the practice data points to a closely contested weekend in Baku, with Red Bull looking to maintain its qualifying edge, Mercedes aiming to close the gap, and the midfield teams hoping to capitalize on any strategic missteps. The high‑downforce layout of the Baku circuit, combined with its long straight, ensures that tyre management and brake performance will be pivotal throughout the sprint and the race.
Source: The Race, Formula 1
