Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Sat, Sep 26, 202611:00 AM UTC
Weekend write-up
Why Baku races on Saturday in 2026, where the lap is won and lost, and the qualifying session that set a Formula 1 red-flag record.
Weekend Schedule
UTCPredict the Azerbaijan Grand Prix top 5
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2026 Driver Grid
Mercedes
Ferrari
McLaren
Red Bull Racing
Racing Bulls
Alpine
Haas
Audi
Williams
Aston Martin
Cadillac
Following the season? See the 2026 F1 championship standings.
Circuit guide
Baku City Circuit
Baku, Azerbaijan
Baku pairs one of the longest flat-out runs in the championship with a section threaded between the walls of the old city that is barely wider than a car and a half. That combination makes it one of the most unpredictable races of the year.
- Track type
- Street
- Overtaking
- Very good
- Upset risk
- Very high
What the lap demands
A low-downforce setup helps down the enormous main straight but hurts through the twisting castle section, and teams have to pick a side. The walls are close for most of the lap and the surface offers little grip.
How the racing unfolds
The main straight is long enough that a slipstream plus Overtake is close to unbeatable, so positions change constantly and defending is very hard. Safety cars are near-inevitable given how close the barriers are.
Picking a Top 5 here
One of the genuinely chaotic weekends. Results here regularly feature drivers well outside their usual range, and the grid tells you comparatively little. If you are going to take a risk on an outside pick anywhere on the calendar, this is a reasonable place to do it.