Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Russell, who trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 81 points, was 0.4 seconds quicker than Verstappen.
Antonelli, currently leading the championship, finished fifth fastest but did not complete a lap on the quickest soft-compound tyres. He stopped on track with a hydraulic leak, missing half of the session.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured third and fourth positions, both just over 0.4 seconds behind Russell. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were seventh and eighth, while the upgraded Audis of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg placed ninth and tenth.