Formula 1 heads to the Caspian for Round 15 of the 2026 season, and the Baku City Circuit almost always delivers chaos: 200 mph blasts down the main straight, a castle-section chicane that bites, and a safety car that feels inevitable. Here is the full weekend schedule in your time zone, the current title picture, and a free printable race guide and prediction sheet you can hand around for the watch party.
Quick facts
- Event: 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Round 15)
- Circuit: Baku City Circuit, 6.003 km
- Race distance: 51 laps (306.049 km)
- Weekend: Thursday to Saturday, September 24 to 26, 2026 (an unusual Thursday-to-Saturday format)
- Race start: Saturday, September 26, 15:00 Baku time (07:00 AM ET, 04:00 AM PT)
2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule and start times
Baku runs on a rare Thursday-to-Saturday timetable this year, so double check your calendar before you plan the weekend. All times below are converted from the official Formula 1 timetable (Baku is UTC+4).
| Session | Day and date | Baku | UK (BST) | US Eastern | US Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Thu, Sep 24 | 12:30 | 09:30 | 04:30 | 01:30 |
| Practice 2 | Thu, Sep 24 | 16:00 | 13:00 | 08:00 | 05:00 |
| Practice 3 | Fri, Sep 25 | 12:30 | 09:30 | 04:30 | 01:30 |
| Qualifying | Fri, Sep 25 | 16:00 | 13:00 | 08:00 | 05:00 |
| Race | Sat, Sep 26 | 15:00 | 12:00 | 07:00 | 04:00 |
Download the free printable race guide and prediction sheet
Print one for everyone watching. Page one is the full race guide (schedule in four time zones, circuit facts, and the current championship top 10). Page two is a prediction sheet: call the pole, the podium, the fastest lap, the first retirement, and whether the safety car shows up, with the full 22-driver grid listed for reference.
Download the printable 2026 Azerbaijan GP guide (PDF)
The 2026 title picture heading into Baku
Kimi Antonelli has turned his sophomore season into a genuine championship lead, and Mercedes sit one and two in the standings. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is the closest non-Mercedes threat, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc still in range and Max Verstappen chasing from sixth. On a track where one wall-tap can swing a title fight, every point in Baku matters.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 292 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 211 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 191 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 167 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 145 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 71 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 41 |
What to watch at the Baku City Circuit
Baku is two tracks in one. The twisty old-town section around the castle is barely wider than the cars and punishes a busy steering wheel, while the run from Turn 16 to Turn 1 is one of the longest flat-out stretches in F1, which makes slipstreams and late braking moves the story of the race. Tire warm-up in the cool Caspian evening is tricky, qualifying position is gold on a circuit where overtaking is possible but risky, and the safety car has appeared in a large majority of Baku races. Expect strategy gambles the moment it does.
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Frequently asked questions
What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
The race starts Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 15:00 local Baku time, which is 07:00 AM ET, 04:00 AM PT, and 12:00 BST.
Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a Saturday?
The 2026 Baku round uses an unusual Thursday-to-Saturday schedule, with practice starting Thursday and the race on Saturday rather than the traditional Sunday.
How many laps is the Baku race?
The race is 51 laps of the 6.003 km Baku City Circuit, a total of 306.049 km.
Where can I get a printable Azerbaijan GP prediction sheet?
Right here. Download the free two-page printable above for a full race guide plus a prediction sheet with the entire 2026 grid listed for reference.
