Verstappen edges Russell in chaotic Baku final practice

Max Verstappen denied George Russell another practice-session victory as Red Bull renewed its challenge to Mercedes ahead of Friday qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Gusty conditions, typical of Baku, arrived for final practice and added difficulty to the wall-lined street circuit. Several drivers went off track as errors mounted during the hour.

Mercedes appeared set to extend its advantage from calmer conditions on Thursday, but Verstappen found increasing pace on his soft-tyre run and ultimately beat Russell to the top spot with a 1:43.922.

Russell finished 0.099 seconds behind, while Lewis Hamilton completed the top three, just 0.111 seconds off the pace in a Ferrari that had not been competitive for most of the session.

Hamilton’s late lap was helped by a tow along Baku’s long main straight, while the changing wind is expected to play a major role in the fight for pole position.

      <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/26/09/768x432/skysports-max-verstappen-red-bull_7360962.jpg?20260925104151" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/26/09/384x216/skysports-max-verstappen-red-bull_7360962.jpg?20260925104151 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/26/09/768x432/skysports-max-verstappen-red-bull_7360962.jpg?20260925104151 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/26/09/1600x900/skysports-max-verstappen-red-bull_7360962.jpg?20260925104151 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/26/09/2048x1152/skysports-max-verstappen-red-bull_7360962.jpg?20260925104151 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Max Verstappen looks to be in the mix for his first pole position of the season" data-testid="article-image-image"/>

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    <span class="u-hide-visually">Image:</span>
    <span class="ui-media-caption__caption-text" data-testid="article-image-caption-text">Max Verstappen looks to be in the mix for his first pole position of the season
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“The weather has brought us the possibility of an absolutely fascinating and dramatic qualifying to come,” said Sky Sports F1’s David Croft.

“These are not easy conditions out there by any stretch of the imagination.”

Kimi Antonelli, who leads Russell by 81 points in the championship, was fourth fastest ahead of the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Friday September 25
11.10am: F2 Feature Race 1*
12.30pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up*
1PM: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Saturday September 26
7.55am: F2 Feature Race 2
10.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12PM: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction*
3pm: Ted’s Notebook*

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Racing on a Saturday! The 2026 Formula 1 season continues live on Sky Sports F1 this week as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header of races, with the Baku race taking place on Saturday at midday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime

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