The 2026 Formula 1 calendar brings the sport back to the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, and this year the race will be staged on a Saturday rather than the usual Sunday. The decision stems from the nation’s observance of Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27, prompting organizers to move the entire weekend forward by one day.
As a result, Thursday will host the first practice session, Friday will feature qualifying, and the Grand Prix itself will take place on Saturday, September 26, with the start time set for midday local time (1 pm UK time, given Azerbaijan’s three‑hour time‑difference). The Baku event is the opening round of a three‑race overseas swing that will continue with stops in Malaysia and Singapore. This triple‑header is the first of its kind for the season, and the early start means the schedule is compressed: practice runs on Thursday, a single qualifying session on Friday, and the race on Saturday. Fans watching from the United Kingdom will see the sessions run slightly earlier than during the European portion of the calendar, with qualifying at 1 pm and the race at 12 pm.
Baku’s street circuit has become famous for its blend of high‑speed sections and tight, technical corners, making it one of the most unpredictable venues on the F1 map. The 1.4‑mile main straight is the longest of any Grand Prix circuit, allowing cars to exceed 200 mph and creating frequent slip‑streaming battles where three cars can line up side‑by‑side.
The sheer velocity of this straight is balanced by a series of narrow, 90‑degree turns that demand precise braking and throttle control. The most infamous of these is Turn One, where a massive braking zone has been the scene of dramatic crashes, including the 2018 collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. After the opening straight, the layout moves through two shorter straights linked by classic street‑circuit corners before entering the historic part of the city. Here, the track narrows dramatically to just 7.6 metres between the safety barriers, forming the tight Turn Eight‑Nine "castle" chicane that winds past Baku’s UNESCO‑protected medieval architecture.
This section is the narrowest point on the entire F1 calendar and tests drivers’ precision to the limit; even a small error can result in a wall‑impact or a costly spin. Weather forecasts for race week predict warm, dry conditions with daytime highs in the mid‑20s Celsius, which should provide consistent grip levels but also raise concerns about tyre degradation on the abrasive asphalt.
Teams will need to manage their tyre strategies carefully, especially given the high‑speed nature of the circuit, which places significant stress on the front‑right tyre during the long straight and the heavy braking zones. The championship narrative adds further intrigue.
Kimi Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ standings by a substantial 81 points after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid. With eight races remaining after Baku, his rivals must seize any opportunity to close the gap, and the chaotic nature of the Baku race often produces surprise results that can reshuffle the leaderboard. Last year’s event reminded everyone that the circuit can be unforgiving; Oscar Piastri, then the title contender, suffered a costly mistake that highlighted how quickly fortunes can change on these walls.
The weekend’s full timetable is as follows: - Wednesday 23 Sept – 11:00 am Drivers’ press conference; 2:00 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 at 1:00 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 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 for Sky subscribers, with additional streaming options via the Sky Sports app and the NOW streaming service.
Non‑Sky customers can purchase a day‑pass or month‑pass for NOW, allowing them to watch every on‑track action from practice through to the race. A live blog will also provide minute‑by‑minute updates for fans on the move, and highlights will be posted shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app. For those unfamiliar with the technicalities of the circuit, it is worth noting that Baku’s layout combines the characteristics of a classic street track—tight barriers, limited runoff, and a close‑quarter feel—with the raw speed of a purpose‑built racetrack. This hybrid nature creates a unique challenge: drivers must balance outright pace on the long straight with the need for absolute precision in the narrow city centre sections.
The result is a race that frequently produces multiple safety‑car periods, strategic pit‑stop gambles, and, occasionally, dramatic last‑lap overtakes. In summary, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s Saturday schedule is a direct response to the country’s national holiday, shifting the entire weekend forward to accommodate local observances.
The Baku City Circuit promises another action‑packed event, with its blend of blistering speed, historic scenery, and tight corners ensuring that both drivers and teams will be tested to the limit. Whether you are a seasoned F1 follower or a newcomer, the Saturday race offers a compelling showcase of the sport’s excitement, and it will be a pivotal moment in the 2026 championship battle as Kimi Antonelli looks to extend his lead while his challengers hope to capitalize on the circuit’s notorious unpredictability.