Thursday’s sole practice session at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix delivered a clear picture of the weekend’s competitive landscape. According to Autosport, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets with a best lap of 1:41.823, while his teammate Sergio Pérez was second, just 0.12 seconds off the pace. The Austrian duo’s dominance was underpinned by a strong grip on the medium tyre compound, which the teams were mandated to use for the opening stint of the race.
Ferrari, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm on the Baku street circuit. Charles Leclerc’s quickest lap of 1:42.456 placed him only fifth overall, and teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. lingered further down the order. Both drivers reported excessive tyre wear on the soft compound, a concern echoed by Motorsport.com, which noted that the abrasive surface of the Baku circuit combined with the high‑speed straight‑line sections is taxing even on the latest tyre constructions. Ferrari’s engineers are expected to adjust their tyre strategy for Sunday, possibly opting for a longer stint on the medium tyre to preserve performance.
The midfield battle provided the most intrigue. Mercedes’ George Russell set the third‑fastest time, signalling a potential return to form after a mixed start to the season. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon surprised with a fourth‑place lap, beating both McLaren drivers who were grouped around the mid‑top ten. This suggests that the low‑down‑force layout of the Baku circuit may level the playing field for teams that have struggled on more aerodynamic‑dependent tracks.
For Indian fans, the practice session began at 12:30 pm IST and concluded at 2:30 pm IST. The live feed, along with the full session replay, will be available on FanCode, which holds the streaming rights for the 2026 F1 season in India. Viewers can also catch the upcoming qualifying on Saturday at 2:00 pm IST and the race on Sunday at 12:00 pm IST, both on the same platform.
Looking ahead, the data from Thursday suggests Red Bull will aim to control the race from the front, while Ferrari may need to gamble on an alternative tyre window to stay in contention. Mercedes and Alpine appear poised to capitalize on any strategic missteps, making Sunday’s sprint and main race a potentially unpredictable affair.
Source: Autosport
