The Formula 1 circus is heading back to the streets of Baku this weekend, where the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will unfold on Saturday. The event marks the start of a three‑race overseas swing that will continue with stops in Malaysia and Singapore, making Baku a pivotal early‑season showdown. Unlike a typical race weekend, the Baku program has been shifted forward by a day. Practice sessions are slated for Thursday, qualifying will take place on Friday, and the main race is scheduled for Saturday, September 26.
This adjustment aligns with the nation’s Remembrance Day observance on Sunday, September 27, and ensures the Grand Prix does not clash with national commemorations. At the moment, Kimi Antonelli sits atop the Drivers’ Championship with an 81‑point cushion after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid.
With eight rounds remaining after Baku, his rivals will be desperate to close the gap, but the unforgiving nature of the Baku circuit means any mistake can instantly erase a driver’s hopes. Oscar Piastri learned that lesson the hard way last year when a slip in the wall‑lined layout ended his race prematurely. The Baku City Circuit, first introduced to the F1 calendar in 2016, is a hybrid street track that blends modern high‑speed sections with narrow medieval alleyways.
Its inaugural edition ran under the European Grand Prix banner, but from the following year onward it has carried the country’s name. The track stretches 5.6 kilometres (approximately 3.5 miles) and features the longest straight of the season—a 1.4‑mile run where cars regularly exceed 200 mph.
The sheer length of this straight creates massive slip‑streaming opportunities, and it is not uncommon to see three cars side‑by‑side as they accelerate toward the heavy braking zone at Turn 1. Turn 1 itself has become notorious for dramatic incidents. In 2018, Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo collided there, illustrating how quickly the high‑speed approach can turn into a pile‑up.
After the opening straight, the circuit narrows into a series of tighter 90‑degree corners before entering the historic quarter of Baku. Here, the track squeezes to just 7.6 metres between the barriers, creating the tightest segment on the calendar. The challenging Turn 8‑9, often referred to as the "castle" chicane, weaves through a UNESCO‑protected medieval district, demanding precise car control and leaving little margin for error.
Weather forecasts for race week predict warm, dry conditions with daytime highs hovering in the mid‑20s Celsius. Such temperatures are ideal for generating optimal tyre performance, but teams will still need to manage tyre degradation carefully, especially given the high‑load braking zones and the abrasive surface of the street circuit. For fans wishing to follow the action, the schedule is as follows (local Baku time, UTC+4): - Thursday: First practice session – 10:00 am - Thursday: Second practice session – 2:00 pm - Friday: Qualifying – 1:00 pm - Saturday: Grand Prix – 12:00 pm (noon) In the United Kingdom, which is three hours behind Baku, the race will therefore start at 9:00 am GMT, making it an early‑morning viewing opportunity for British audiences.
Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for the event in the UK. Sky Sports F1 will carry every session from Thursday’s practice through to the Saturday race.
Subscribers can also stream the coverage via the Sky Sports app, which offers an interactive “on‑board” feature allowing viewers to select a driver’s perspective. For those without a Sky subscription, the NOW streaming service provides flexible access: a Day Pass or a Month‑to‑Month membership can be purchased, granting instant entry to all Sky Sports channels and the ability to watch on over 60 devices. The service is contract‑free, so users may cancel at any time.
In addition to live TV, fans can keep up with real‑time updates through Sky’s dedicated F1 blog, which offers a live‑blog feed for those on the move. Highlights will be uploaded shortly after the checkered flag on the Sky Sports app, giving viewers a quick recap of the most exciting moments.
To summarise, the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises a blend of blistering speed, tight street‑circuit challenges, and strategic intrigue as the championship battle intensifies. Whether you are watching from a living‑room sofa, a mobile device, or following the live blog on the go, the Saturday race will be a pivotal chapter in what is shaping up to be a thrilling Formula 1 season.