Mercedes left the opening day of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix encouraged after George topped both Friday sessions in Baku, even though Kimi’s running was badly disrupted by a hydraulic issue. It was a positive start, but one that still leaves plenty to do before qualifying tomorrow.
The team said the timesheets may not show the full picture because rivals did not reveal their true pace. That matters at a street circuit like Baku, where confidence, track position and one clean lap can shape the whole weekend.
Kimi's Friday was cut short
Kimi’s first practice session ended after just 9 laps because of a loss of hydraulic pressure. Mercedes then changed the power unit during the break between sessions, but the disruption meant he lost valuable track time across FP1 and FP2.
He described the day as “somewhat compromised” and pointed out that losing laps is never ideal on a street circuit like Baku, where confidence builds with every run. Even so, he said ending the day in P2 was a positive way to recover.
George leads the way
George had a much smoother day and finished fastest in FP2 after completing a productive long run. He said the car felt competitive over a single lap and that Mercedes’ race pace looks closely matched with McLaren and Red Bull.
He also warned that the gaps are likely to tighten further once qualifying begins tomorrow. In other words, Mercedes may have reason to be optimistic, but there is no sense that the job is done.
What Mercedes will want overnight
The main takeaway for Mercedes is simple: they have promising pace, but not yet the full picture. George’s speed offers encouragement, yet Kimi’s limited mileage means the team has less data than it would have liked before the most important session of the weekend.
With qualifying still to come, the opening day in Baku looks useful rather than decisive. Mercedes have started well, but Saturday will tell the real story.
