Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Mercedes driver George Russell headed both practice sessions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Briton led team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 0.552 seconds in the second session. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was Russell's closest rival in the first session, when Antonelli suffered a hydraulic failure.

Antonelli's reliability problems also meant he missed the first half of the second session, and overall the Italian had half the amount of running of Russell.

Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad had his second crash in consecutive race weekends in practice, clipping the wall on the exit of the tight chicane leading into the section around the castle.

In the context of the day, the margin between the two Mercedes drivers is to be expected but Antonelli is likely to close in on Friday in the run up to qualifying.

Read the full report here.

Third practice: 09:30-10:30 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Qualifying: 13:00-14:00 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Kimi Antonelli missed quite a lot of both sessions as his car was worked on, but despite the lack of track time he still managed to finish P2, half a second off George Russell.

It is looking like being a battle between the two Mercedes.

Yellow flagpublished at 14:00 BST

14:00 BST

Very short wave of the yellow flags as Max Verstappen goes into the run off area briefly, with a minute of the session to go.

Lando Norris brushes his tyres against the wall but no major drama as he continues on his way.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on Sports Extra 2 in Baku

Interesting that a lot of these long runs are being done on the soft tyre because degradation round here is incredibly low. It's highly likely to be a one-stop race.

Teams are embarking on their long runs now, with Kimi Antonelli currently lapping on a medium tyre.

Into the final few minutes of the session and the qualifying runs are over now.

George Russell on team radio: "I almost went right into the back of Bortoleto."

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter in Baku

Aston Martin are investigating a suspected oil leak in the power unit of Fernando Alonso's car.

Both Mercedes are at the top of the timesheet now as Kimi Antonelli goes second quickest, within half a second of George Russell.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on Sports Extra 2 in Baku

George Russell and that Mercedes looking very, very strong.

George Russell is absolutely flying on this circuit as he goes even quicker with a 1:43.347 and he's now eight tenths quicker than Max Verstappen.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator in Baku

This is going to be something to watch in qualifying, traffic as you are either gearing up for a lap or finishing off a hot lap. Out of Turn 16 is going to be really dicey.

Liam Lawson is not happy at all with Lewis Hamilton after the latter left it late to move out of the way.

"That was dangerous," Lawson says as the incident is noted by stewards.

Max Verstappen gets a nice little tow off Gabriel Bortoleto but it is not enough for him to go fastest of all as he goes second quickest, four tenths off George Russell.

Big lap from George Russell as he goes top of the order with 1:43.759 - seven tenths quicker than anyone else.

Image source, Getty Images