The 2026 Formula One calendar places the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a Saturday, a departure from the usual Sunday finish that most fans are accustomed to. This scheduling quirk is tied to the nation’s observance of Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27, so the race weekend has been shifted forward by one day to respect the holiday. As a result, the full programme runs from Thursday through Saturday, with practice sessions on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and the main race on Saturday morning. Baku’s street circuit, officially known as the Baku City Circuit, returned to the F1 schedule for the second consecutive year after making its debut in 2016.
The track quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most demanding and high‑speed street courses, blending long, blistering straights with tight, technical corners that thread through the historic heart of the city. Its 1.4‑mile main straight is the longest on the calendar, allowing cars to exceed 200 mph and creating frequent slip‑stream battles where three cars can line up side‑by‑side. The opening Turn 1 braking zone has already produced dramatic incidents, most famously the 2018 collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. The circuit’s layout continues after the first straight with two shorter straights linked by classic 90‑degree street‑circuit turns.
Drivers then plunge into the ancient part of Baku, navigating a series of narrow passages that include the narrowest section of any F1 venue – a mere 7.6 metres between the barriers at the Turn 8‑9 "castle" chicane. This part of the track runs alongside a UNESCO‑protected medieval district, demanding razor‑sharp precision and leaving little room for error. The combination of extreme speed on the straight and the tight, twisty sections makes Baku a true test of driver skill and team strategy.
The 2026 race weekend is also notable for being the opening leg of a three‑race overseas swing that will see the championship move to Malaysia and then Singapore. Because the Baku event is the first of this triple‑header, the schedule has been compressed: practice begins on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and the Grand Prix itself on Saturday. The timing reflects Azerbaijan’s time zone, which is three hours ahead of the United Kingdom. Consequently, qualifying is slated for 13:00 local time and the race for 12:00, slightly earlier than typical European‑based events.
Current championship dynamics add further intrigue. Kimi Antonelli, who has secured back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid, leads the drivers’ standings by an impressive 81 points. With eight rounds remaining after Baku, his rivals must seize every opportunity to close the gap. Last year’s race reminded everyone how unforgiving the Baku circuit can be; then‑title leader Oscar Piastri suffered a costly mistake that highlighted the thin margin for error on the wall‑lined track.
Weather forecasts for race week predict warm, dry conditions with daytime highs in the mid‑20s Celsius, offering optimal grip levels but also increasing the likelihood of high tyre degradation on the abrasive street surface. Teams will need to balance outright speed on the long straight with tyre management through the tight sections, especially the narrow castle chicane where overheating can become a critical factor. The official itinerary for the weekend is as follows: - Wednesday, 23 September – 11:00 am Drivers’ Press Conference; 14:00 pm Paddock Uncut. - Thursday, 24 September – 06:55 am F2 Practice; 09:30 am Azerbaijan GP Practice 1; 10:55 am F2 Qualifying; 12:00 pm Team Bosses’ Press Conference; 12:30 pm Practice 2 (starts at 13:00); 14:15 pm The F1 Show.
- Friday, 25 September – 05:10 am F2 Sprint; 09:15 am Practice 3 (starts at 09:30); 11:10 am F2 Feature Race 1; 12:30 pm Qualifying build‑up; 13:00 pm Azerbaijan GP Qualifying; 15:00 pm Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - Saturday, 26 September – 07:55 am F2 Feature Race 2; 10:30 am Grand Prix; 12:00 pm Azerbaijan Grand Prix; 14:00 pm Chequered‑Flag Reaction; 15:00 pm Ted’s Notebook. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 for Sky subscribers, with additional streaming options via the Sky Sports app and the NOW streaming platform for non‑Sky customers.
Viewers can also follow a live blog for real‑time updates and enjoy post‑race highlights on the Sky Sports app shortly after the checkered flag. In summary, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s Saturday slot is a direct result of the nation’s Remembrance Day observance, leading to an accelerated weekend schedule that still packs a full complement of practice, qualifying, and race action.
The Baku City Circuit’s unique blend of extreme straight‑line speed, narrow historic streets, and high‑stakes overtaking zones ensures that the event will continue to be one of the most exciting—and unpredictable—stops on the Formula One calendar. Fans can look forward to a thrilling showdown as drivers push the limits of their machines while navigating the circuit’s unforgiving layout, all under the watchful eyes of a global audience eager for high‑octane drama.