The 2026 Formula 1 calendar brings the sport back to the Baku City Circuit for what is often one of the most unpredictable and action‑filled rounds of the year. This weekend’s event is unusual because the entire programme has been shifted a day earlier than the standard Friday‑Saturday‑Sunday format, meaning that practice sessions begin on Thursday, qualifying takes place on Friday, and the Grand Prix itself is scheduled for Saturday, 26 September. The shift is not arbitrary; it is designed to accommodate Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day, which falls on Sunday, 27 September, and to ensure that the race does not clash with the country’s solemn observances. Baku is the first stop of a three‑race overseas swing that will continue with Malaysia and Singapore.
The early start gives teams and drivers a compressed but intense schedule: Thursday hosts the first two practice sessions, Friday is reserved for the final practice and the crucial qualifying session, and Saturday sees the full‑distance race at midday local time. Because Azerbaijan lies three hours ahead of the United Kingdom, the Saturday race will be broadcast at 12 p.m.
UK time, with qualifying at 1 p.m. UK time, slightly earlier than the usual European slots. The championship battle is already shaping up dramatically. Kimi Antonelli, who has dominated the opening two rounds with victories in Monza and Madrid, leads the drivers’ standings by a commanding 81 points.
With eight rounds still to run after Baku, his rivals must seize any opportunity to close the gap, and the high‑speed, high‑risk nature of the Baku circuit provides exactly the kind of chance they need. Last year’s race offered a stark reminder of the circuit’s unforgiving character when then‑title contender Oscar Piastri suffered a costly mistake that sent him into the barriers. The narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku reward precision and punish even the smallest errors.
The Baku City Circuit, which first joined the F1 calendar in 2016 under the banner of the European Grand Prix, quickly earned its own identity and has been a staple of the schedule ever since. It is renowned for being one of the fastest street circuits in the sport, featuring a 1.4‑mile (2.2‑km) main straight that is the longest of any race venue this season.
Cars routinely exceed 200 mph on this straight, creating dramatic slip‑streaming battles and allowing three‑wide overtaking moves that are rarely seen elsewhere. The straight feeds directly into a massive Turn 1 braking zone, a spot that has produced memorable incidents, including 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 corners before the track plunges into the historic heart of Baku. Here, the circuit narrows dramatically; the narrowest section measures just 7.6 metres between the protective barriers, making it the tightest part of any F1 venue. This stretch includes the infamous Turn 8‑9, known as the "castle" chicane, which winds past UNESCO‑protected medieval architecture. Negotiating this section demands utmost concentration, as a single mis‑judgment can result in a wall‑impact that ends a driver’s race instantly.
Weather forecasts for race week predict warm, dry conditions with daytime highs in the mid‑20s Celsius (mid‑70s Fahrenheit). Such stable weather typically leads to consistent track temperatures, allowing teams to fine‑tune their aerodynamic packages and tyre strategies without the complications of rain or sudden temperature swings.
The official schedule for the weekend is as follows: - **Wednesday, 23 September** – 11 a.m.: Drivers’ press conference; 2 p.m.: Paddock Uncut interview series. - **Thursday, 24 September** – 6:55 a.m.: Formula 2 practice; 9 a.m.: Azerbaijan GP Practice 1 (starts at 9:30 a.m. local); 10:55 a.m.: Formula 2 qualifying; 12 p.m.: Team bosses’ press conference; 12:30 p.m.: Practice 2 (starts at 1 p.m.); 2:15 p.m.: The F1 Show.
- **Friday, 25 September** – 5:10 a.m.: Formula 2 sprint; 9:15 a.m.: Practice 3 (starts at 9:30 a.m.); 11:10 a.m.: Formula 2 Feature Race 1; 12:30 p.m.: Qualifying build‑up; 1 p.m.: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying; 3 p.m.: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - **Saturday, 26 September** – 7:55 a.m.: Formula 2 Feature Race 2; 10:30 a.m.: Grand Prix build‑up; 12 p.m.: Azerbaijan Grand Prix (race start); 2 p.m.: Chequered‑flag reaction segment; 3 p.m.: Ted’s post‑race notebook.
All sessions marked with an asterisk (*) will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, ensuring that fans in the UK and Ireland can follow the action in real time. **Viewing options:** - **Television:** Sky Sports F1 will carry every session from Thursday practice through to the Saturday race.
- **App:** Sky Sports app subscribers can stream the coverage on mobile devices, tablets, or smart TVs, with the added feature of selecting a driver’s onboard camera feed. - **Streaming:** Non‑Sky customers may access the weekend via the NOW service, which offers day‑pass or month‑pass subscriptions that can be cancelled at any time. NOW provides all twelve Sky Sports channels and the Sky Sports+ streams, compatible with over 60 devices.
- **Live blog:** For those on the move, a dedicated F1 blog will deliver minute‑by‑minute updates, results, and analysis throughout the weekend. - **Highlights:** Sky Sports app users will receive a highlights reel shortly after the chequered flag, allowing them to relive the most exciting overtakes and incidents. The decision to hold the race on a Saturday aligns with the broader trend of flexible scheduling in Formula 1, where organizers adapt race days to accommodate local holidays, broadcast windows, and logistical considerations.
By moving the Grand Prix to Saturday, the organizers respect Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day while still delivering a prime‑time slot for international audiences. This arrangement also benefits teams, as it provides a slightly tighter turnaround between practice and qualifying, sharpening the focus on data analysis and car setup. For spectators, the Saturday race promises a compact, high‑intensity experience. With the main straight, tight chicane, and historic city backdrop, Baku offers a unique blend of speed, technical challenge, and visual spectacle.
Fans can expect plenty of slip‑stream battles on the long straight, daring overtakes through the narrow Turn 8‑9, and the ever‑present threat of a wall‑contact that can turn a leader into a retiree in an instant. As the 2026 season progresses, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be a pivotal moment for the championship narrative.
Whether Antonelli can extend his dominant lead, or a challenger can capitalize on the circuit’s volatility to close the gap, the race’s Saturday slot ensures that the drama unfolds at a time that maximizes global viewership while honoring local traditions. The combination of a compressed schedule, a demanding street layout, and a passionate fan base makes the Baku event a must‑watch highlight of the Formula 1 calendar.