The 2026 Formula 1 season will see the Azerbaijan Grand Prix staged on a Saturday, marking a departure from the usual Sunday finish for most races. This shift is part of a three‑race overseas swing that begins with the Baku City Circuit, followed by events in Malaysia and Singapore. By moving the entire weekend forward by one day, the schedule now runs Practice on Thursday, Qualifying on Friday, and the main race on Saturday, September 26.
The change is driven primarily by local observances: Azerbaijan commemorates Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27, and organisers have chosen to respect that national holiday by concluding the Grand Prix a day earlier. The Baku City Circuit, nestled on the Caspian Sea coast where Europe meets Asia, first entered the Formula 1 calendar in 2016. That inaugural year the race was billed as the European Grand Prix, but from 2017 onward it has carried the name of its host nation. The track quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s fastest and most unforgiving street circuits.
Its 1.4‑mile (2.25‑km) main straight is the longest on the calendar, allowing cars to exceed 200 mph (322 km/h). The sheer length creates massive slip‑streaming opportunities, and drivers often line up three abreast as they charge down the straight toward the heavy‑braking Turn 1, a corner that has produced dramatic incidents, most famously the 2018 collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. After the opening straight, the layout transitions into two shorter straights linked by classic 90‑degree street‑circuit turns before entering the historic heart of Baku.
Here the circuit narrows dramatically, reaching a width of just 7.6 metres at the Turn 8‑9 "castle" chicane, the tightest point on any Formula 1 track. This section snakes past UNESCO‑protected medieval architecture, demanding precise car control and leaving little margin for error. The combination of blistering speed on the long straight and the technical, low‑speed sections makes Baku a unique challenge for both qualifying and race day, rewarding bravery while punishing even the smallest mistake. The current championship narrative adds further intrigue.
Kimi Antonelli sits atop the drivers’ standings with an 81‑point lead after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid. With eight rounds remaining after Baku, his rivals must mount a serious comeback if they hope to dethrone him. Last year’s race reminded everyone that Baku can be a great equaliser; Oscar Piastri, who entered the weekend as title‑contender, saw his hopes dashed after a costly error on the wall‑lined circuit.
The lesson is clear: speed alone does not guarantee success on this demanding street layout. Weather forecasts predict warm, dry conditions throughout the weekend, with daytime highs hovering in the mid‑20s Celsius. Such temperatures are ideal for generating high downforce without overheating the power units, but they also mean the track surface will be slick and the asphalt will expand, subtly altering grip levels as the day progresses. The official timetable for the weekend is as follows (all times local, Azerbaijan is UTC+4, three hours ahead of the UK): - Wednesday 23 September – 11:00 am Drivers' Press Conference; 2:00 pm Paddock Uncut interview series.
- Thursday 24 September – 6:55 am Formula 2 practice; 9:30 am Azerbaijan GP Practice 1; 10:55 am Formula 2 qualifying; 12:00 pm Team Principals' press conference; 12:30 pm Azerbaijan GP Practice 2 (starts at 1:00 pm); 2:15 pm The F1 Show. - Friday 25 September – 5:10 am Formula 2 sprint race; 9:30 am Azerbaijan GP Practice 3; 11:10 am Formula 2 Feature Race 1; 12:30 pm Build‑up to Qualifying; 1:00 pm Azerbaijan GP Qualifying (followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm).
- Saturday 26 September – 7:55 am Formula 2 Feature Race 2; 10:30 am Grand Prix start (12:00 pm UK time); 2:00 pm Chequered‑Flag reaction segment; 3:00 pm Ted’s Notebook post‑race analysis. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 for subscribers, with the option to stream via the Sky Sports app or the NOW streaming service for non‑Sky customers. Sky’s coverage includes on‑board camera feeds, live timing, and a dedicated F1 blog for real‑time updates.
Highlights will be uploaded to the Sky Sports app shortly after the race concludes. In summary, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s Saturday slot is a strategic accommodation for the nation’s Remembrance Day, but it also adds a fresh rhythm to the Formula 1 calendar. The Baku City Circuit’s blend of extreme straight‑line speed, razor‑thin corners, and historic surroundings ensures that the race will be a highlight of the season, capable of reshaping the championship battle and delivering unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.