Russell makes most of teammate's woes in Baku practice

However, Antonelli had to withdraw midway through the one-hour running after "gremlins" struck his Mercedes in Thursday's first practice session.

The Italian pulled over to the side of the road reporting a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Antonelli was top of the time sheets after the initial laps on the hardest compound, but he was fifth by the end of the session as his rivals bolted on the speedier soft tyres.

And it was Russell who took advantage of his teammate's demise to set the quickest time, the Brit four-tenths faster than Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Russell, who ran off the road under braking for the fourth corner before he safely returned to the street track.

Charles Leclerc finished third, 0.404 seconds slower than Russell, with Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli completed just nine laps and his Mercedes mechanics will be left to repair his car for the day's second running later on Thursday.

Isack Hadjar is back in his Red Bull cockpit, having missed the past three races with a wrist injury.

The Frenchman renewed terms to stay at Red Bull for next season, but was able to complete just eight laps because of an engine problem.

Australia's Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren, a place clear of New Zealander Liam Lawson, now back at Racing Bulls, after he deputised for Hadjar in Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid.

Piastri's teammate and reigning world champion Lando Norris was only 14th at a venue he expects will not suit his McLaren. 

- with Reuters