Mercedes showcased impressive pace during Thursday's practice sessions at Baku, establishing themselves as strong contenders for pole position. Meanwhile, McLaren struggled with significant performance gaps exceeding one second, prompting team principal concerns about their qualifying prospects. George Russell anticipates competitive margins will narrow substantially in qualifying, while Lando Norris remains cautious about McLaren's chances. The grid is set for an intense battle as teams prepare for Friday's final practice and qualifying sessions.

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