Azerbaijan GP 2026 FP3: Verstappen Edges Russell by 0.099s

Max Verstappen set the fastest lap in final practice for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, recording a 1:43.922 at the Baku City Circuit on 25 September. The Red Bull driver finished just 0.099 seconds ahead of Mercedes' George Russell. Lewis Hamilton placed third for Ferrari, only 0.111 seconds behind Verstappen.

The result denied Russell a clean sweep of the three practice sessions. He had set the pace in both earlier sessions before Verstappen moved ahead during the closing minutes of Free Practice 3, commonly called FP3.

Key Takeaways from Azerbaijan GP FP3

• Verstappen topped FP3 with a lap of 1:43.922.

• Russell finished second, 0.099 seconds behind.

• Hamilton was third, 0.111 seconds off the leading time.

• Wind, dust and limited grip made the Baku street circuit difficult throughout the session.

• Russell later took pole and won the race, while Verstappen finished second.

Verstappen Sets the Fastest Lap in the Closing Minutes

The front-running teams waited before beginning serious running because strong wind had left dust and leaves across the circuit. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were among the first leading drivers to set representative times on the soft tyre. Russell and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli initially used the medium compound.

Verstappen briefly moved to the top after gaining a double slipstream through Baku's long final sector. Hamilton then responded before Antonelli and Russell moved ahead as the track became busier.

Russell switched to soft tyres with about 15 minutes remaining. He first recorded a 1:44.177 and then improved to 1:44.021. Verstappen's first soft-tyre attempt placed him between the two Mercedes drivers, but his final lap changed the order.

The Red Bull driver completed a 1:43.922 in the final minutes. His lap benefited from a slipstream on the long run towards the finish, but it still required precise driving around Baku's narrow, wall-lined circuit. Russell could not improve after running deep at Turn 7 on his last attempt.

Mercedes Remains Competitive Despite Missing the Top Position

Russell's second place confirmed that Mercedes remained a leading contender after topping both earlier practice sessions. The gap to Verstappen was less than one tenth of a second.

Antonelli placed fourth, 0.351 seconds behind the leading time. Two Mercedes cars in the top four showed strong one-lap pace, although FP3 results alone could not predict qualifying because fuel loads, tyre preparation, track position and slipstreaming varied between runs.

Russell ultimately demonstrated that the team's pace was genuine. Later on 25 September, he took pole position with a 1:42.526, beating Leclerc by 0.837 seconds. Verstappen qualified eighth after his final run was affected by a yellow flag.

Hamilton Leads Ferrari as McLaren Finishes Seventh and Eighth

Hamilton improved on his final lap to take third place for Ferrari. His 1:44.033 left him 0.012 seconds behind Russell and 0.111 seconds behind Verstappen. Leclerc finished fifth, 0.622 seconds off the lead.

Pierre Gasly placed sixth for Alpine. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were seventh and eighth, with respective gaps of 0.824 and 0.977 seconds. Isack Hadjar and Franco Colapinto completed the top 10.

The classification showed a close battle between Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari at the front. McLaren was further back in FP3, so the session did not support the submitted draft's claim that the team had demonstrated dominance.

Wind and Mistakes Complicate the Baku Session

Strong wind affected car balance and helped move debris onto the track. A tree branch caused a brief Virtual Safety Car period. Verstappen reported that his car felt “very numb in Turn 16,” while several drivers used the run-off areas after mistakes at Baku's heavy braking zones.

Lance Stroll's session ended early after he clipped the inside wall at Turn 1. The impact damaged his Aston Martin, and he completed only nine laps. Russell also narrowly avoided the barrier after running straight on at Turn 7.

These incidents were more useful evidence than speculation about tyre degradation or long-run performance. FP3 primarily showed how difficult it was to complete a clean qualifying-style lap in changing wind and traffic.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026 FP3 Top 10

The times and gaps above match the FIA's published FP3 classification.

What Happened After Final Practice?

Verstappen's FP3 result did not carry into qualifying. Russell took pole, while Leclerc and Piastri qualified second and third. Verstappen started from eighth.

Russell then converted pole into victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 26 September. He held off Verstappen by 0.196 seconds after two Safety Car periods created a close finish. Hadjar completed the podium in third.