The 2026 Formula 1 season will see the Azerbaijan Grand Prix staged on a Saturday, marking a slight shift from the usual Sunday finish that most fans are accustomed to. The race returns to the Baku City Circuit, a venue that has earned a reputation for delivering some of the most dramatic and incident‑laden weekends on the calendar.
This year, the event is the first leg of a three‑race overseas swing that will continue with stops in Malaysia and Singapore, and the scheduling tweak means the whole weekend is compressed by a day. Practice sessions will kick off on Thursday, qualifying will be held on Friday, and the main race will take place on Saturday, September 26.
The change is driven by Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day, observed on Sunday, September 27, which would otherwise clash with the Grand Prix. The early start has several practical implications. Azerbaijan operates three hours ahead of the United Kingdom, so the broadcast windows are shifted slightly earlier than the typical European slots.
Qualifying is slated for 1:00 pm local time, while the race itself starts at 12:00 pm, meaning British viewers will see the action in the late morning. For fans watching on Sky Sports F1, the entire program – from the first practice on Thursday morning through to the Saturday race – will be available live, with additional coverage on the Sky Sports app and the NOW streaming platform for those without a traditional Sky subscription. From a competitive standpoint, the championship narrative is already taking shape. Young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by a substantial 81 points after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid.
With eight rounds remaining after Baku, his rivals must mount a serious challenge if they hope to keep their title hopes alive. Last year’s race served as a cautionary tale for Oscar Piastri, who learned the hard way that the wall‑lined Baku circuit can punish even the slightest mistake.
The track’s blend of high‑speed straights and tight, technical sections demands absolute precision in both qualifying and race conditions. Baku’s street layout is a unique hybrid of speed and complexity. The 1.4‑mile main straight is the longest on the calendar, allowing cars to exceed 200 mph and creating abundant opportunities for slipstreaming and multi‑car overtakes. Turn One, a heavy braking zone at the end of this straight, has been the scene of dramatic incidents, most famously the 2018 collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
After the straight, the circuit narrows into a series of classic 90‑degree street‑circuit corners before entering the historic old town. Here, the track reaches its most constricted point – the Turn Eight‑Nine "castle" chicane – where the gap between the barriers shrinks to just 7.6 metres, making it the narrowest section of any F1 venue.
This section winds past UNESCO‑protected medieval architecture, adding a visual spectacle to the technical challenge. The weekend’s schedule is packed with supporting events.
On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers’ press conference will be held at 11:00 am, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 2:00 pm. Thursday’s agenda includes the Formula 2 practice session at 6:55 am, the first Azerbaijan GP practice at 9:30 am, and the F2 qualifying later that morning. The day also features a Team Bosses’ press conference and a second practice session beginning at 1:00 pm, capped off by "The F1 Show" at 2:15 pm. Friday’s program is equally busy, with the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third GP practice at 9:30 am, the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, and the main qualifying session at 1:00 pm, accompanied by a special "Ted's Qualifying Notebook" segment at 3:00 pm.
Saturday’s highlight is the Grand Prix itself, starting at 12:00 pm, followed by post‑race analysis, reaction pieces, and another edition of Ted’s Notebook. Weather forecasts predict warm and dry conditions throughout the race week, with daytime temperatures hovering in the mid‑20s Celsius.
Such stable weather typically favors high‑downforce setups and reduces the likelihood of rain‑induced surprises, allowing teams to focus on maximizing straight‑line speed and tyre management. For viewers, multiple platforms ensure accessibility. Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every session live, and the Sky Sports app offers an on‑board experience with driver‑focused camera angles. Non‑Sky customers can subscribe to NOW, the instant streaming service that provides contract‑free access to all Sky Sports channels and additional content.
NOW memberships are flexible, offering both daily and monthly options that can be cancelled at any time, making it easy for casual fans to tune in for just the weekend. In addition to live coverage, fans can follow a dedicated F1 blog for real‑time updates, read post‑race reaction pieces, and watch highlight reels on the Sky Sports app shortly after the checkered flag. The combination of a compressed schedule, a demanding circuit, and a championship battle that is already tilting heavily in Antonelli’s favour ensures that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be a focal point of the season, even though it unfolds a day earlier than usual.
Whether you are a die‑hard follower of the points fight or simply enjoy the spectacle of high‑speed street racing, the Saturday race in Baku promises plenty of excitement, drama, and memorable moments.