By Nelson Espinal

Copyright newsweek

Both Mercedes drivers are still aiming for a podium after two middling performances during Friday’s practice sessions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.At Baku, Mercedes appears to be the third fastest car. Ferrari looks to be a step ahead of the German manufacturer, while McLaren’s hidden pace means they are likely still the top of the field.Assuming Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both finish in the top two, the last step on the podium will be up for grabs.Mercedes is hoping to slot in P3, though Ferrari and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will put up a massive challenge.George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 19, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan.George Russell finished in the top four during both sessions, though he was behind Leclerc for both final classifications.Also, neither McLaren driver managed a clean lap in FP2, which helped the Brackley outfit stay in the top four.More news: From Louis Vuitton to Tag Heuer: Formula 1 is Becoming the Sport of Luxury BrandsRussell still believes the team can reasonably fight for a podium place.“I am now looking forward to resting up tonight, getting back to 100 per cent, and coming back strong for the rest of the weekend,” Russell told the media.“We know it will once again be tight with our competitors, with Ferrari looking impressive and McLaren not yet showing their hand.“If we can build on today, though, then there’s no reason we can’t be in the fight for the podium on race day.”More news: Formula 1 Set to Announce New U.S. Broadcast Partner SoonAntonelli, on the other hand, is battling through a good deal of pressure amid a run of underwhelming results.Mercedes is eyeing the potential signing of Max Verstappen for 2027, leaving Russell and Antonelli fighting for a spot for the long term.While team boss Toto Wolff appreciates both, he is known for being ruthless when push comes to shove.Considering the outside factors, Antonelli got off to a good start, finishing fourth in FP2, though 11th in FP1.“Our realistic aim is to be in the fight for the podium on Sunday. McLaren couldn’t show their full pace today, and Ferrari looked quick on both the Soft and Medium compounds, so we’re not getting carried away,” Antonelli said.“We opted to only run the Soft tyre today and hopefully that helps over the rest of the weekend.“It will be tricky adjusting to the other compounds when we first run them but we’re confident that this is the right approach.”More news: F1’s Fastest Lap Ever? Max Verstappen Breaks Long-Standing RecordA podium would be impressive for Antonelli and potentially the right medicine for his poor run of form.Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP2 ResultsLewis Hamilton (Ferrari)Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)George Russell (Mercedes)Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)Ollie Bearman (Haas)Max Verstappen (Red Bull)Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)Esteban Ocon (Haas)Alex Albon (Williams)Lando Norris (McLaren)Carlos Sainz (Williams)Oscar Piastri (McLaren)Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)Pierre Gasly (Alpine)Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)Franco Colapinto (Alpine)For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.