Last updated: September 14, 2026. Formula 1 heads to the Caspian for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and Baku runs a compressed weekend this year: both practice sessions on Thursday, final practice and qualifying on Friday, and the race on Saturday, September 26. Below is the full session schedule in Baku time and US Eastern, how to watch in the States, and a printable one-page timetable.
2026 Azerbaijan GP Weekend Schedule
All times below are Baku local (UTC+4) with US Eastern (ET) in the second column. The street circuit runs 51 laps for a race distance of about 306 kilometers.
| Session | Day | Baku (local) | ET |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Thursday, Sept 24 | 12:30 | 4:30 AM |
| Free Practice 2 | Thursday, Sept 24 | 16:00 | 8:00 AM |
| Free Practice 3 | Friday, Sept 25 | 12:30 | 4:30 AM |
| Qualifying | Friday, Sept 25 | 16:00 | 8:00 AM |
| Race | Saturday, Sept 26 | 15:00 | 7:00 AM |
How to Watch the Azerbaijan GP in the US
Starting in 2026, Apple TV is the exclusive US home of Formula 1, so every Azerbaijan GP session streams there. With the race at 15:00 in Baku, that puts the green light at 7:00 AM ET on Saturday morning in the States (4:00 AM Pacific), a rare Saturday race rather than the usual Sunday. Qualifying is Friday at 8:00 AM ET.
Baku City Circuit
The Baku City Circuit is one of the fastest street tracks on the calendar. Its 6.003-kilometer lap mixes a tight, twisting run past the old city walls with one of the longest flat-out stretches in Formula 1, a start-finish straight that runs well over two kilometers. That combination makes setup a compromise between downforce for the castle section and top speed on the straight, and it regularly produces late-race drama, safety cars and bold overtakes into Turn 1.
More 2026 F1 Resources
Plan the rest of the season with our printable 2026 F1 schedule with race start times, and follow the title fight on the 2026 F1 standings tracker for drivers and constructors.
Azerbaijan GP FAQ
What day is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? The race is Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 15:00 Baku time (7:00 AM ET). Baku runs a Thursday-to-Saturday weekend in 2026.
How can I watch the Azerbaijan GP in the US? Formula 1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the United States in 2026, so every session streams there.
How many laps is the Baku race? The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is 51 laps of the 6.003-kilometer Baku City Circuit, about 306 kilometers.
