FP2 Data Drop: What We Learned

Mercedes immediately looks like the team to beat in Baku, with George Russell topping both sessions and showing frightening single-lap pace, while Kimi Antonelli recovered from a disrupted day to finish P2. Russell’s high-fuel running also looked competitive, although Mercedes believes Red Bull and McLaren are much closer on race pace than the timing sheets suggest. Max Verstappen remains firmly in the mix, while McLaren’s struggles are the biggest early-weekend concern. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lacked one-lap speed, making Mercedes assets considerably more attractive heading into qualifying.

🔒 Final Deadline & Roster Targets

🔒 FINAL LOCK	5:00 AM PT, September 25 6:00 AM MT, September 25 8:00 AM ET, September 25
Verified 2× Boost	KIMI ANTONELLI—fantasy points leader
PPM Value Pick	SERGIO PEREZ—his experience at this track could make him a valuable budget asset
Late-Week Avoid	ASTON MARTIN—recent struggles and off the pace so far this weekend

Fantasy Implications from the Paddock

• Mercedes: Russell topped both practice sessions and Antonelli recovered to P2 in FP2, strengthening Mercedes as one of the safest assets.
• McLaren: Norris and Piastri lacked convincing single-lap pace, making their higher prices harder to justify on this tight circuit.
• Ferrari: They showed enough pace to stay in the premium conversation, but Mercedes’ practice advantage makes the Scuderia look more like an alternative than the priority pick.

Our Locked-In Lineup

Slot	Asset	Price	Lineup Status
Driver 1 (2× Boost)	KIMI ANTONELLI	$26.6M	🔒 HELD
Driver 2	ISACK HADJAR	$14.5M	🔒 HELD
Driver 3	FRANCO COLAPINTO	$10.6M	🔄 SWAPPED from Arvid Lindblad – this pairing looks more promising for budget building
Driver 4	ALEX ALBON	$6.4M	🔄 SWAPPED from Oliver Bearman
Driver 5	NICO HULKENBERG	$4.8M	🔒 HELD
Constructor 1	MERCEDES	$33.5M	🔒 HELD
Constructor 2	FERRARI	$27.5M	🔒 HELD
Total Cost		$123.9M

Final Strategy: Some minor changes to help with budget building.

Locking in changes? Drop your final modifications in the comments below before the deadline!

Circuit Analysis & Baseline Form: Azerbaijan GP Primer — Post-Race Points Wrap-Up: Azerbaijan GP Review (expected on Saturday)