F1 returns to the popular Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images
Formula 1 returns to one of its most unpredictable venues this weekend as the streets of Baku host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The 6.003km circuit remains one of the most distinctive on the calendar, combining tight sections through the Old City with heavy braking zones and one of Formula 1’s longest flat-out stretches.
This weekend marks the ninth running of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the 10th Formula 1 race staged in Baku, with the circuit’s inaugural 2016 event held under the European Grand Prix name.
The race will also take place on Saturday this year rather than its traditional Sunday slot to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day.
Red Bull and Mercedes have largely controlled Baku since Formula 1 first arrived, winning every race at the circuit apart from 2024.
That exception came courtesy of Oscar Piastri, who produced one of the standout drives of his career to claim victory for McLaren after a tense battle with Charles Leclerc.
Piastri became the second Australian to win in Baku, following Daniel Ricciardo’s famous triumph for Red Bull in the chaotic 2017 race.
His return this weekend comes with very different circumstances.
The Australian has now gone more than 12 months without a grand prix victory and will be hoping Baku can again provide the spark he needs after a difficult stretch.
The venue was also the scene of one of the most damaging weekends of his 2025 title campaign, with two crashes halting his momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
At the other end of the championship picture, Kimi Antonelli arrives firmly in control.
Victory in Spain last time out was the Mercedes driver’s eighth of the season and stretched his advantage over teammate George Russell to 81 points, more than the equivalent of three race wins.
It also took Antonelli beyond Russell’s career victory tally, with the younger Mercedes driver now having won one more race this season than Russell has managed across his entire F1 career.
Russell has not stood on the top step since the Austrian Grand Prix, but Baku has traditionally been one of his stronger circuits.
He has finished on the podium in three of his four appearances at the venue for Mercedes, making this weekend another important opportunity to eat into Antonelli’s sizeable advantage.
Mercedes has also enjoyed considerable success in Azerbaijan historically, although Red Bull has been equally formidable.
Only two drivers have ever won more than once in Baku, with Max Verstappen joining former teammate Sergio Perez on that list after taking victory last season.
Ferrari, by contrast, is still searching for its first win at the circuit despite repeatedly showing strong qualifying pace.
Charles Leclerc started from pole four consecutive times between 2021 and 2024, more than any other driver in Baku, yet failed to convert any of those starts into victory.
That record underlines the unique challenge of a circuit where outright speed is only one part of the equation.
Baku’s mix of long straights, slow corners, heavy braking and unforgiving walls has regularly produced dramatic races, with safety cars, restarts and strategy swings often shaping the outcome.
With Antonelli holding an 81-point championship lead, Russell looking to revive his title challenge, Piastri returning to the scene of one of his greatest victories and Ferrari still chasing an elusive first Baku win, Azerbaijan again has all the ingredients for another unpredictable weekend.
When is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit takes place on September 24-26 (AEST).
What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will start at 9pm AEST on Saturday, September 26. Scroll down for more time zones.
Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule
Thursday, 24 September
Session
Duration
Local
AEST
ACST
AWST
NZST
FIA Formula 2
Practice Session
45 minutes
10:00
16:00
15:30
14:00
18:00
FORMULA 1
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
18:30
18:00
16:30
20:30
FIA Formula 2
Qualifying Session 1
20 minutes
14:00
20:00
19:30
18:00
22:00
FIA Formula 2
Qualifying Session 2
20 minutes
14:30
20:30
20:00
18:30
22:30
FORMULA 1
SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
22:00
21:30
20:00
0:00
Friday, 25 September
FIA Formula 2
Sprint Race (21 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
8:15
14:15
13:45
12:15
16:15
FORMULA 1
THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
18:30
18:00
16:30
20:30
FIA Formula 2
Feature Race 1 (29 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap)
60 minutes
14:15
20:15
19:45
18:15
22:15
FORMULA 1
QUALIFYING SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
22:00
21:30
20:00
0:00
Saturday, 26 September
FIA Formula 2
Feature Race 2 (29 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap)
60 minutes
11:00
17:00
16:30
15:00
19:00
FORMULA 1
GRAND PRIX (51 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
60 minutes
15:00
21:00
20:30
19:00
23:00
What is the weather for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
A mostly dry but breezy race weekend is expected in Baku, with temperatures forecast to reach around 29 degrees Celsius on Thursday before easing to about 24 degrees on Friday and 26 degrees on Saturday, with sunshine or partial cloud and little to no chance of rain across the three days.
How to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Australia
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be live on Fox Sports 506. There is no live free-to-air coverage or post-race free-to-air highlights of the event in Australia.
Can I live stream the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Australia?
The Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Foxtel’s subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports.
How to watch F1 TV commentary feed
The alternative F1 TV commentary feed is available to Foxtel customers with a set top box. Kayo Sports subscribers can only watch the F1 TV feed during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Fox Sports broadcast times (AEST)
Thursday, September 24
Practice 1: 6:00pm-7:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Practice 2: 9:30pm-11:15pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Friday, September 25
Practice 3: 6:15pm-8:15pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Qualifying: 9:00pm-11:05pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Saturday, September 26
Build-up: 7:30pm-8:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Race: 8:55pm-11:00pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
How to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in New Zealand
Sky Sport will broadcast the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Sky Sport 2 carrying the action on Thurday, Sky Sport 3 on Friday and Sky Sport 1 on Saturday.
Can I live stream the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in New Zealand?
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sport’s subscription streaming service Sky Go or Sky Sport Now.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Sky Sports broadcast times (NZST)
Thursday, September 24
Practice 1: 8:00pm-9:55pm NZST
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Practice 2: 11:30pm-1:15am NZST
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Friday, September 25
Practice 3: 8:15pm-10:10am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Qualifying: 11:30pm-2:00am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Saturday, September 26
Build-up: 9:30pm-10:55pm NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Race: 10:55pm-1:00am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship (After Spanish GP)
Pos
Num
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
8
6
292
2
63
George Russell
Mercedes
2
4
211
81
81
3
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
1
0
191
101
20
4
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
2
3
186
106
5
5
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1
0
167
125
19
6
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
0
145
147
22
7
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
0
120
172
25
8
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
0
0
71
221
49
9
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls/Red Bull
0
0
59
233
12
10
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
0
1
41
251
18
11
6
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
0
0
31
261
10
12
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
0
0
27
265
4
13
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas
0
0
18
274
9
14
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
0
0
10
282
8
15
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
0
7
285
3
16
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
0
6
286
1
17
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
0
5
287
1
18
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
0
3
289
2
18
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
0
3
289
0
20
22
Yuki Tsunoda
Racing Bulls
0
0
1
291
2
21
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0
0
0
291
1
21
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
0
0
292
0
21
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
0
0
292
0