Russell tops Azerbaijan first practice as Antonelli halts with hydraulic leak

George Russell clocked the fastest lap in first practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix while championship leader Kimi Antonelli stopped on the track with a hydraulic leak.

• Russell, who trails Antonelli by 81 points in the championship, set 1:45.387, 0.4 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
• Antonelli finished fifth but stopped at Turn One on his first lap on soft tyres, missing half of the session.
• Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth, both within 0.5 seconds of Russell's pace.
• Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad placed seventh and eighth, while Esteban Ocon said Thursday he is a free agent for 2027.