News Summary
- Kimi Antonelli retired from Azerbaijan GP FP1 after reporting a hydraulic failure.
- The Mercedes stopped beside the circuit around halfway through the session, prompting a Virtual Safety Car.
- Marshals covered the W17 with extinguisher foam as a precaution, also catching Antonelli in the spray.
Kimi Antonelli’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend suffered an early setback after a hydraulic failure forced the Formula 1 championship leader out of first practice in Baku.
Antonelli reported a loss of hydraulic pressure before slowing and parking his Mercedes beside the circuit around halfway through Thursday’s session. Race control activated the Virtual Safety Car while marshals recovered the W17.
Mercedes quickly confirmed that Antonelli would not return to the track during FP1, costing the Italian a significant amount of preparation time on a street circuit where confidence and mileage are particularly important.
The incident also produced an unusual moment after Antonelli climbed from the car. Marshals used a fire extinguisher on the Mercedes as a precaution and part of the spray struck the driver, giving him an unexpected shower beside the circuit.
There was no immediate indication of fire, while Antonelli walked away from the car without difficulty.
Hydraulic failure compounds Mercedes reliability concerns
The stoppage is significant because Mercedes has already identified reliability as one of the remaining threats to Antonelli’s championship position.
Antonelli leads team-mate George Russell by 81 points, but mechanical problems have cost both drivers opportunities during the season. The Italian previously failed to score at Silverstone after a front wheel-shield failure made his car increasingly difficult to control.
Toto Wolff recently described the W17 as “fragile” and warned that Mercedes could not consider the championship decided while failures continued to interrupt otherwise competitive weekends.
The Mercedes reliability concerns now carry greater relevance after Antonelli’s first Baku session ended beside the track.
Mercedes must inspect the hydraulic system before FP2, which begins only a few hours after opening practice. Any extensive repair could further restrict Antonelli’s running on Thursday.
Lost mileage matters on Baku street circuit
FP1 is normally dedicated to establishing ride height, aerodynamic balance and braking stability around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.
The track combines slow 90-degree corners with the narrow Old City section and an exceptionally long flat-out final sector. Drivers also need to understand how the car behaves under braking after receiving a slipstream along the main straight.
Antonelli’s problem prevented him from completing the intended programme and gathering representative long-run information. Mercedes can use Russell’s car to continue its evaluation, but differences in driving style and set-up mean that data cannot completely replace Antonelli’s lost laps.
The interruption comes before a particularly compressed weekend. The Azerbaijan GP is being held on Saturday, with practice beginning on Thursday and qualifying taking place on Friday.
Antonelli cannot win the championship in Baku, but another strong result would move him closer to an earliest possible title opportunity later in the season. Russell has already ruled out taking a power-unit penalty in Azerbaijan and insists he will continue fighting while the title remains mathematically available.
Mercedes has not yet confirmed which component caused Antonelli’s hydraulic loss or whether any parts must be replaced before FP2.
The Azerbaijan GP schedule continues with second practice at 13:00 UK and 08:00 ET on Thursday. Qualifying begins at 13:00 UK and 08:00 ET on Friday.
F1 today: FAQ
Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?
The race takes place on Saturday, September 26, because Sunday is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. The entire programme was moved forward, with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.
What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
The Azerbaijan GP starts at 12:00 UK, 07:00 ET and 15:00 local time on Saturday. It will run for 51 laps around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship in Azerbaijan?
Yes. Antonelli arrives in Baku with an 81-point lead over George Russell, making him mathematically capable of securing the championship. To become champion, he must leave Azerbaijan at least 75 points ahead.
What happened to Kimi Antonelli in Azerbaijan FP1?
Antonelli reported a loss of hydraulics and parked his Mercedes beside the track around halfway through the session. The incident triggered a Virtual Safety Car.
