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From what started as a boring Baku experience quickly got flipped on its head when the Williams of Alex Albon found the barrier, and the safety car was forced to come out, twice.
Join Kevin Turner and Stuart Codling as they analyse the race, where George Russell was dominant, but only won the race by 0.196 seconds. They also discuss the harsh penalty invoked by Lando Norris for Franco Colapinto, and more from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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Autosport analysts examine the technical challenges of the Baku circuit, including tire performance and the impact of recent car upgrades. Discussions also cover the unfolding championship dynamics, driver penalty controversies, and the upcoming return to the Malaysian Grand Prix
George Russell produced a stunning lap to take pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix — but how did Mercedes find so much pace?
Stuart Codling breaks down an extraordinary qualifying session in Baku, where Russell claimed pole by eight-tenths of a second from Charles Leclerc and then backed it up with another huge lap.
Behind him, Max Verstappen could only qualify eighth after an engine problem compromised his electrical deployment, while Kimi Antonelli crashed in Q1 and will start deep in the field.
Stuart also looks at Ferrari’s qualifying execution, McLaren’s struggles for straight-line speed, Oscar Piastri’s near-miss for second, and Lando Norris’ continuing concerns about the MCL’s performance.
Further down the grid, Carlos Sainz’s five-place penalty changes the starting order, Franco Colapinto moves up, and Oliver Bearman narrowly misses out on Q3.
And what can we expect in Sunday’s race? Stuart looks at the likely tyre strategy, the importance of safety cars and the unpredictable Baku wind.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Russell’s stunning Baku pole
01:33 – Antonelli’s Q1 crash
02:29 – Why the soft tyres caused problems
03:30 – Verstappen’s engine problem explained
04:01 – Leclerc P2 and Piastri’s near miss
05:23 – McLaren’s straight-line speed problem
06:16 – Hamilton’s Ferrari frustration
07:08 – Gasly, Verstappen and the midfield battle
08:07 – Sainz’s penalty reshapes the top 10
09:41 – Baku race strategy: who will one-stop?
10:11 – Wind, safety cars and Sunday’s big variables
George Russell stunned the Formula 1 paddock by topping FP2 at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, with Mercedes appearing to have a significant advantage over McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari.
But was Mercedes really as far ahead as the FP2 timesheets suggested?
Lando Norris described Mercedes’ pace as a “dagger to the heart”, but the Baku street circuit presents a particularly complex picture. Track evolution, grip levels, engine modes and electrical deployment can all have a major influence on lap time — especially around a circuit where straight-line speed and low-speed traction are so critical.
Join Autosport’s Stuart Codling from the Azerbaijan GP paddock for a detailed technical analysis of Mercedes’ FP2 performance, including a deep dive into the telemetry to find out where George Russell gained time over Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
We also examine the latest F1 upgrades brought to Baku by McLaren, Red Bull, Williams and Sauber/Audi, and assess how each team is adapting its car for one of Formula 1’s most demanding street circuits.
The analysis covers Mercedes’ braking performance through Turns 3 and 4, straight-line speed, energy deployment and engine mapping, as well as the impact of Baku’s evolving track conditions on the FP2 order.
With qualifying still to come, is Mercedes’ pace genuine — or could the competitive picture change when the teams turn up the performance?
Max Verstappen | FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem | A2RL | Azerbaijan Preview
Mercedes’ hot shot Kimi Antonelli was thrilled to score a lucky eighth win for 2026 in Spain at the MADRING, and now heads to Azerbaijan for the first of F1’s final flyaways with one hand on a maiden crown.
One that would make him Italy’s first Formula One World Champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953; 73 years ago. Watch the video, and tell us what you think in the comments…
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