Russell fastest in first practice as Antonelli’s Mercedes breaks down

Mercedes driver George Russell led Max Verstappen in first free practice at Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli hit trouble.

Russell’s 1m45.387s lap, set with 20 minutes to go in the one-hour session, was comfortably enough to hold off the competition as his Mercedes team-mate disappeared from the session early, with Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the top three instead.

With the race held on Saturday to accommodate a national holiday, Thursday’s first practice at the Baku city circuit got off to a leisurely start with drivers taking a cautious approach. The slippery street