News Summary

Carlos Sainz’s Williams suffered a rear-brake fire during first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as braking problems affected several drivers across the opening session in Baku.

The incident occurred as Sainz returned to the garage during the early stages of FP1. Flames appeared around the rear brakes of the FW48, but Williams mechanics quickly extinguished the fire and the Spaniard later returned to the circuit.

Sainz completed the session in 12th place with a 1:46.893, finishing 1.506s behind Mercedes driver George Russell.

Team-mate Alex Albon encountered a separate problem and complained about inconsistent braking behaviour.

“My brakes feel very strange,” Albon said over the radio. “It’s pulling and it comes in late. I don’t know what I’m going to get.”

Hadjar nearly crashes on Red Bull return

The Williams drivers were not alone. Isack Hadjar reported severe pulling under braking only minutes into his first Formula 1 session since recovering from a wrist injury.

“Crazy pulling on the brakes,” Hadjar told Red Bull. “I almost shunted into the wall.”

The Frenchman managed to return to the garage but later reported a separate mechanical issue. Red Bull instructed him to reduce speed and bring the car back carefully, limiting him to 20th place.

Oscar Piastri also complained about the behaviour of his McLaren’s braking system.

“The vibration on these brakes is unbelievable,” he said. “Like, twice as bad as anything I’ve ever had.”

Despite the problem, Piastri finished sixth, 1.011s behind Russell. Albon placed 13th, immediately behind Sainz.

Baku conditions place brakes under pressure

Baku combines a 2.2km flat-out section with several heavy braking zones, including the approaches to Turns 1 and 3. The track temperature had already reached approximately 50°C at the beginning of FP1, increasing the cooling challenge for teams.

Drivers repeatedly missed braking points throughout the session, although there was no immediate evidence that the problems reported by Williams, Red Bull and McLaren shared a common technical cause.

The issues arrived during an important weekend for Williams. The team introduced lighter chassis and an aerodynamic package in Baku, but Sainz had already warned that the FW48’s fundamental problems require more than a conventional upgrade.

While Sainz and Albon were able to continue, championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s session ended after a hydraulic failure stopped his Mercedes. Antonelli was then caught by extinguisher spray during the recovery of his car.

F1 returns for second practice at 13:00 UK, 08:00 ET and 16:00 local time on Thursday.

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 Carlos Sainz in Azerbaijan FP1?

The rear brakes on Sainz’s Williams caught fire as he returned to the garage. The team extinguished the fire and he later resumed running.