Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026: Race start time in Baku, how to watch, full schedule, predictions

Formula 1 is heading to the streets of Baku for this year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix as we roll into the business end of the season.

Title leader Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the drivers' championship after picking up his eighth victory of the season at the brand-new Madring last time out.

He leads his teammate George Russell by 81 points, with Lewis Hamilton now dropping back in the title race after a retirement in Spain.

So you don't miss a thing, here's everything you need to know for the 15th race of the season.

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Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule

All times in BST

Thursday, September 24

Practice One: 9.30 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.
Practice Two: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday, September 25

Final Practice: 9.30 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.
Qualifying: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

Saturday, September 26

Azerbaijan Grand Prix: 12 p.m. 

How to watch

Sky Sports has exclusive F1 rights again in 2026 in the U.K., with every session live on Sky Sports F1. The sessions are also on Sky Sports Main Event.

For non-subscribers, highlights of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be on free-to-air television on Channel 4.

In the U.S., subscribers can watch every session on Apple TV, via a new F1 channel on the platform.

Why is the race on a Saturday?

For the first time in Baku's history, the F1 weekend will shift a day forwards, with the race taking place on a Saturday to avoid a clash with an Azerbaijan National Day of mourning on the Sunday.

Azerbaijan's people will dedicate their thoughts to military personnel and those who died during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Baku City Circuit

After the European leg of the calendar where circuits are more traditional, Baku is one of the standout street circuits of the season. 

The first race in Baku was held in 2016 as the European Grand Prix before it was called the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a year later.

The section around Turns 8, 9 and 10 are lined by the walls of the city's charming old town including a castle and the long main straight along the Baku shoreline sees cars reach speeds in excess of 220 mph and is the best spot for overtaking.

The walls are narrow and the high-speeds make for either a race full of chaos, or none at all. There is a 57% chance of a Safety Car being deployed during the race. 

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Circuit: Baku City Circuit; Baku, Azerbaijan

Previous winners

2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2017: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2018: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2019: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2021: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
2022: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2023: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
2024: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
2025: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Other key stats

First F1 race: 2016 European GP. (First race as Azerbaijan GP in 2017)

Laps: 51 laps of 6km. 

Lap record: 1:43.009, Charles Leclerc (2019).

Most wins: Pérez (2021, 2023) and Verstappen (2022, 2025) with two wins each. Other winners from the current grid are Hamilton (2018), Bottas (2019) and Piastri (2024).

Most poles: Leclerc with four (2021-2024) and Hamilton (2017), Bottas (2019) and Verstappen (2025) are the other pole sitters from the current grid.

Weather forecast 

The weather for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be dry and sunny throughout the weekend. Temperatures will be around 26°C, but will drop to 24°C for the race on Saturday.

What happened last year?

Red Bull's Verstappen took pole position around the streets of Baku in a qualifying session that featured a record six red flags.

He ended up converting that pole into a dominant victory, with Russell in second and Carlos Sainz behind.

It was a key moment in the championship fight between Lando Norris and Piastri as Norris closed the gap to 25 points to his McLaren teammate after the Australian crashed out.

Who will win this year? 

The last street circuit this year was in Monaco in June and since then several of the top teams have upgraded its packages and haven't yet gone racing on street circuits, but Baku has now arrived.

Antonelli has looked on fire in the last two races, but Norris is creeping to the front. The reigning world champion has two wins to his name in Hungary and Zandvoort, but also suffered an unlucky run in Madrid with the safety car deployment, so missed out on a potential win there as well. 

Mercedes are set to be quick in the high-speed straight lines in Baku, but the tight and twisty corners might suit Ferrari and McLaren best.

One of the main aims will be to not crash the car into the wall otherwise the whole course of the race can rapidly change in a blink of an eye.

- Formula 1 in 2026: Race calendar