The 2026 Formula 1 calendar brings the sport back to the glittering Baku City Circuit for what is traditionally one of the most unpredictable and action‑packed rounds of the year. This year the race is slated for Saturday, September 26, a departure from the usual Sunday slot, and the change is tied to Azerbaijan’s national observances and the logistical rhythm of a three‑race swing that also includes Malaysia and Singapore. ### A Shift in the Weekend Schedule Unlike a typical Grand Prix weekend, the Baku event starts a day earlier.
Practice sessions kick off on Thursday, qualifying is held on Friday, and the main race unfolds on Saturday. The adjustment is required because Sunday, September 27, is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, a public holiday that would clash with a Sunday race. By moving the Grand Prix to Saturday, organizers respect the national holiday while still delivering a full weekend of on‑track action.
The timing also reflects the country’s time zone: Azerbaijan sits three hours ahead of the United Kingdom. Consequently, the Saturday race is scheduled for midday local time, which translates to a convenient early‑afternoon slot for UK viewers (around 1 pm). The earlier practice and qualifying sessions follow the same pattern, with Thursday’s first practice beginning at 9:30 am local time and Friday’s qualifying at 1 pm. ### Championship Context Going into Baku, Kimi Antonelli dominates the drivers’ standings, holding an 81‑point lead after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid.
With eight rounds remaining after this event, his rivals must seize every opportunity to close the gap. The high‑speed, narrow‑track nature of Baku makes it a perfect arena for dramatic swings in fortune, as history has shown. Last year, Oscar Piastri learned the hard way that a single mistake on the wall‑lined circuit can end a promising weekend.
The combination of long straights, tight 90‑degree corners, and the infamous Turn Eight‑Nine chicane—only 7.6 metres between the barriers—means that drivers must balance outright speed with razor‑sharp precision. A slip in concentration can lead to a wall‑impact, a safety‑car deployment, or even a race‑ending crash.
### The Baku City Circuit – Speed Meets History First introduced to the F1 calendar in 2016, the Baku City Circuit quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s fastest street tracks. Its 1.4‑mile main straight is the longest of the season, allowing cars to exceed 200 mph and creating spectacular slip‑stream battles.
The straight feeds into a heavy braking zone at Turn One, a spot that produced a dramatic collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. After the opening straight, the layout weaves through two shorter straights linked by classic 90‑degree turns before entering the historic heart of the city.
Here, the track narrows dramatically, culminating in the tight Turn Eight‑Nine “castle” chicane that skirts the UNESCO‑protected medieval district. This section is the narrowest on the calendar, demanding extreme accuracy from drivers and offering limited overtaking opportunities—yet the sheer speed of the preceding straight often compensates, allowing three‑car battles to unfold side‑by‑side.
### Weather and Conditions Forecasts for race week predict warm, dry weather with daytime temperatures hovering in the mid‑20s Celsius. Such conditions are ideal for tyre performance, but teams will still need to manage tyre degradation carefully, especially on the abrasive surface of the city streets combined with the high‑speed sections that generate significant heat. ### Full Weekend Programme - **Wednesday, 23 Sept** – 11 am Drivers’ Press Conference; 2 pm Paddock Uncut.
- **Thursday, 24 Sept** – 6:55 am F2 Practice; 9:30 am GP Practice 1; 10:55 am F2 Qualifying; 12:00 pm Team Bosses’ Press Conference; 12:30 pm GP Practice 2 (starts 1 pm); 2:15 pm The F1 Show. - **Friday, 25 Sept** – 5:10 am F2 Sprint; 9:30 am GP Practice 3; 11:10 am F2 Feature Race 1; 12:30 pm Qualifying build‑up; 1:00 pm Azerbaijan GP Qualifying; 3:00 pm Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - **Saturday, 26 Sept** – 7:55 am F2 Feature Race 2; 10:30 am Grand Prix start; 12:00 pm Race finish; 2:00 pm Chequered‑Flag reaction; 3:00 pm Ted’s Notebook.
All sessions are also streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event for subscribers. ### How to Watch - **Television:** Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every session from Thursday practice through to the Saturday race. - **App:** Sky Sports app users can watch live streams and even select a driver’s onboard feed. - **Streaming:** Non‑Sky customers can access the action via the NOW platform, available as a day pass or a flexible month‑to‑month subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
- **Live Blog:** For those on the move, a dedicated F1 live‑blog provides minute‑by‑minute updates. - **Highlights:** Sky Sports app will post race highlights shortly after the chequered flag. ### Why a Saturday Race Matters Holding the Grand Prix on Saturday compresses the weekend, creating a more intense atmosphere for fans and teams alike. The earlier schedule means less downtime between practice, qualifying, and the race, forcing crews to work with tighter windows for data analysis and car set‑up adjustments.
For viewers, the Saturday slot offers a prime‑time viewing window in Europe, potentially boosting audience numbers. ### Final Thoughts The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises a blend of blistering speed, historic scenery, and high stakes for the championship battle. With Kimi Antonelli looking to extend his lead and challengers desperate to capitalize on any mistake, the narrow, wall‑flanked streets of Baku are poised to deliver another memorable chapter in Formula 1 history.
Whether you are watching on Sky Sports, streaming via NOW, or following the live blog, the Saturday race will be a focal point of the triple‑header that continues the season’s narrative toward its climax.