23 September 2026 16:30 (UTC)
A shift to the usual schedule, new upgrades in place and what to expect from the street circuit
Huge straights, cobbled streets and some of the narrowest sections on the circuit – it is time for one of the most intriguing inner-city tests Formula 1 has to offer.
Since its introduction to the calendar in 2016, there has rarely been a dull moment at the Baku City Circuit, and this weekend looks set to continue in the same vein.
As the Azerbaijani capital marks its 10th anniversary as an F1 destination, here are five things to look out for in the coming days…
The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has shifted from the usual weekend schedule, so be sure to take note of the new timings and make sure you don’t miss a second of the action.
Instead of the usual Friday to Sunday schedule, this year’s racing in Baku will take place from Thursday to Saturday in order to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, which takes place on 27 September, honouring those who died in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Free Practice 1 gets underway on Thursday, 24 September at 12:30 local time (09:30 BST), with Free Practice 2 starting at 16:00 in Baku (13:00 BST). Friday is now Qualifying day, with Free Practice 3 starting at 12:30 (09:30 BST) before Qualifying starts at 16:00. (13:00 BST) A rare Saturday race day sees lights out at 15:00 in Baku (12:00 BST).
However, it isn’t the first time a Formula 1 race has taken place on a Saturday. On the current calendar, the Las Vegas Grand Prix also takes place on a Saturday while in 2024, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix were held on a Saturday due to the start of Ramadan.
Further back in history, the British Grand Prix has been held on a Saturday more than 30 times - including its first edition in 1950 - while the South African Grand Prix was regularly scheduled on Saturdays until 1985.
After a week’s break in the racing calendar, the MCL40 returns to the track with a new set of upgrades for Azerbaijan.
As part of our continued journey throughout the season, we have brought a set of aerodynamic upgrades to the MCL40. As with all upgrades, their impact will be tested during the three practice sessions on Thursday and Friday before any further decisions are made, ahead of locking in the final setups for Qualifying and then the Grand Prix on Saturday.
Further changes to the MCL40 will also see the return of the H-Wing following its successful debut in Monza. It was not used at the Madring, a corner-heavy track where the team had prioritised making more efficient use of production time for rear wing parts that will be used at upcoming races. A return will take place in Baku this weekend, owing to the circuit’s long straight into Turn 1. This creates some similarity with Monza’s long straights, with teams rewarded for effective drag reduction.
The long straight in Baku also creates additional challenges, with the brakes and tyres often dropping to relatively cold temperatures following a prolonged period at full throttle.
Any members of the Papaya Family making the trip to support the team in Baku are in for a treat.
Perched on the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s capital offers an enthralling location for drivers, staff, and fans alike to visit amidst the high-octane action.
The ancient Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to medieval sights such as the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower.
Baku is also home to the 13th-century Bibi-Heybat Mosque, while more modern additions to the city skyline include the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre and the Flame Towers. And for anyone looking for home improvement inspiration, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is also a popular destination.
Baku is known as the ‘City of Winds’ due to its frequent gales, and any gusts this weekend look set to be accompanied by toasty temperatures of 25°C.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is one of a handful of street circuits in the Formula 1 calendar, and the city’s twisting castle section provides an iconic backdrop.
Azerbaijan is home to the fourth-longest lap on the 2026 calendar, while only Jeddah features more corners than Baku’s 20.
Turn 8 is particularly tight and the first of three consecutive steep uphill corners that must be navigated carefully, with parts of it just 7.6m wide. In contrast, Baku also features the calendar's longest straight, which will make for sizzling speeds as drivers jostle for position.
Excitement and drama here are all but guaranteed.
We have fond memories of Baku after Oscar took a brilliant win here in 2024 – our first in Azerbaijan since it joined the calendar.
Oscar produced a superb overtake on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to take the lead before defending imperiously to earn the second Grand Prix victory of his Formula 1 career. It was a key moment in Oscar’s senior career, as he displayed the skill and temperament that have made him one of the world’s leading drivers.
It was a win that promoted us to first in the Constructors’ standings, ahead of Red Bull, a position we held right through to the season’s final race, when we clinched the title for the first time since 1998.
Victory also broke the Red Bull stronghold on the race, with the team having won four of the last five races in Baku.
