2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Preview

Guide to the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Formula One commences the season-run in with the first of three triple-headers. 

Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 81 points, whilst Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton now faces a uphill battle to overturn a 101-point deficit but aware that McLaren’s reigning champion – Lando Norris is just five further points behind as the British trio look set to scrap over the vice-champion position.

The trip to Baku marks the first race of the opening triple-header with the Bahrain GP in Malaysia then Singapore to come on the following two weekends, before F1 heads to the Americas from late October until early November in the second triple-header followed by Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi as things stand.

Now, here is a guide to everything that you need to know about the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which features a crucial tweak to the traditional race weekend schedule.

 

Track Guide

Race Distance: 306.049km

Tyre Selection: C3, C4 & C5

 

Schedule

Date	Session	Time (BST)
Thursday 24 September	FP1	9:30am
Thursday 24 September	FP2	1:00pm
Friday 25 September	FP3	9:30am
Friday 25 September	Qualifying	1:00pm
Saturday 26 September	Grand Prix	12:00pm

*The race weekend runs Thursday to Saturday in order to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday 27 September.

 

Four Key Pointers 

• Baku City Circuit’s power-based first and third sectors means that maximum speed is important, yet traction is needed through a twisty second sector.
• Such is the nature of the extensively long flat-out start-finish straight, nailing a tow will be key to maximising lap time in Qualifying.
• With Baku’s mix of long power-based straights, traction zones and heavy braking corners, Mercedes and McLaren look the best-placed to fight for victory but don’t rule out Ferrari given Charles Leclerc’ strong form on street circuits.
• No driver has won the Azerbaijan in consecutive seasons so Max Verstappen will need a slice of luck and strong pace if he is to replicate his victory of 2025.

 

Last Time Out

Red Bull’s Verstappen survived an incident-filled Qualifying to claim pole in Baku in 2025, before he comfortably led the race to take victory from Russell and Williams’ Carlos Sainz.

 

2026 Season Recaps

• Australia
• Chinese Sprint
• Chinese GP
• Japan
• Miami Sprint
• Miami GP
• Canadian Sprint
• Canadian GP
• Monaco
• Barcelona-Catalunya
• Austria
• British Sprint
• Great Britain
• Belgium
• Hungary
• Dutch Sprint
• Netherlands
• Italy
• Spain