The Formula 1 circus rolls into Azerbaijan on Saturday, marking the return of the championship to the Baku City Circuit – a venue that consistently delivers some of the most chaotic and thrilling moments of the year. This event kicks off a three‑race overseas swing that will see the teams head to Malaysia and Singapore after Baku, making it the first leg of a demanding triple‑header.
Unlike a typical Grand Prix weekend, the Baku schedule is compressed by a day: practice sessions begin on Thursday, qualifying is held on Friday, and the main race takes place on Saturday. At the top of the drivers' standings, Kimi Antonelli sits comfortably ahead with an 81‑point cushion after back‑to‑back victories in Monza and Madrid. With eight races remaining after Baku, his rivals are feeling the pressure to string together a strong run and keep their championship hopes alive.
However, as last year’s champion Oscar Piastri discovered, Baku’s wall‑lined street layout can be unforgiving – a single slip can end a race, and the circuit’s mix of high‑speed sections and tight corners tests both the car’s setup and the driver’s precision. The race is slated for Saturday, 26 September, which is a day earlier than usual because Sunday, 27 September, is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day.
Consequently, qualifying will be on Friday and the two practice sessions will open on Thursday. Azerbaijan operates three hours ahead of the United Kingdom, so the timetable is shifted slightly forward compared to the European leg of the season: qualifying is scheduled for 1 pm local time, and the Grand Prix itself will start at 12 pm. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
Baku sits on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, a crossroads where Europe meets Asia. The city’s street circuit was first introduced to the F1 calendar in 2016 under the banner of the European Grand Prix, before adopting the Azerbaijan name from the following year onward. The track quickly earned a reputation as one of the fastest street courses on the schedule, featuring a 1.4‑mile (2.25 km) main straight that is the longest of the season.
Cars regularly exceed 200 mph on this straight, creating dramatic slip‑stream battles and the occasional three‑car line‑up as drivers jostle for position. Turn 1, a heavy braking zone at the end of the straight, has been the scene of several high‑profile incidents, most notably the 2018 collision between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. After the opening straight, the layout shifts to two shorter straights linked by classic 90‑degree street‑circuit corners, before the circuit winds its way into the historic heart of Baku. Here, the track narrows dramatically; the narrowest point, Turn 8‑9 – often referred to as the "castle" chicane – measures just 7.6 metres between the barriers, threading the cars past a UNESCO‑protected medieval district.
Weather forecasts for race week predict warm, dry conditions with daytime highs hovering in the mid‑20s Celsius, providing ideal grip levels but also demanding careful tyre management as the asphalt heats up. The schedule for Saturday, 26 September, includes a F2 Feature Race at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, the main event at 12:00 pm, post‑race analysis at 2:00 pm, and a final commentary segment at 3:00 pm. All of these segments will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the entire weekend, starting with Thursday’s first practice session and culminating with the race on Saturday.
Sky customers can also follow the action via the Sky Sports app, which offers an optional “on‑board” view with a driver’s perspective. Those without a Sky subscription can access the race through the NOW streaming service, which provides flexible Day or Month passes that can be cancelled at any time. Additionally, a live blog will be available for fans on the move, offering minute‑by‑minute updates throughout the weekend.
Highlights from the race will be uploaded shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to catch up on key moments they may have missed. Sky subscribers can also take advantage of Sky iD support to manage their accounts and access additional features.
NOW, the instant‑streaming platform, gives users access to all twelve Sky Sports channels, including every Sky Sports+ stream, across more than 60 devices. Its contract‑free membership model lets customers start and stop their subscription at will, with options for a Day or Month pass. Current pricing and further details can be found on the NOW website. In summary, the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises high‑octane excitement on a Saturday afternoon, with a blend of blistering speed, tight technical sections, and the ever‑present risk of a wall‑strike.
Whether you are a die‑hard fan tracking every lap or a casual viewer looking for a thrilling motorsport showcase, the race will be available through multiple channels – live TV, streaming apps, and real‑time blogs – ensuring you won’t miss a moment of the action.