Baku City Street Circuit Preview
F1 is back in Azerbaijan and ready to race on the streets of Baku. Here is everything you need to know before this weekend’s Grand Prix!
Track Facts
First on the calendar in 2016, Baku gave us 51 laps of raw racing; this is equivalent to the 306.049km race distance. The fastest lap record set by Charles Leclerc in 2019 with a 1:43.009s around the 6.003 km tarmac. Will another driver beat him or can he improve on this time in these new regulation cars?
Characterised by its long start-finish straight, Turn 1 is a prime overtaking spot for our drivers and previously we’ve seen with the likes of Piastri overtaking Leclerc to win the Grand Prix in 2024, so it’s a crucial corner to capitalise on especially because the castle section involves tight, technical corners that challenge driver accuracy.
2025 Recap
Last years’ podium was quite the unexpected one following a very topsy-turvy qualifying that included multiple stoppages due to on-track incidents. The man on pole was Max Verstappen, who went on to lead every lap and win with nearly a 15 second advantage over Russell’s Mercedes in second. Carlos Sainz joined the podium in P3, taking home his first silverware for Williams, after qualifying second on the grid. This marked the Grove based team’s first full-distance podium since 2017.
In 2025, McLaren were the dominant duo out on track but this wasn’t the case in Azerbaijan, particularly for Oscar Piastri. The Australian, who was leading the drivers championship, ended up in the barrier on lap one at turn five marking his first retirement of the season. Norris struggled too with only a P7 finish as he got stuck in midfield traffic and unable to capitalise on Piastri’s retirement to claw back points for his championship fight.
Other notable performances came from current championship leader, Kimi Antonelli who placed fourth. The Red Bull teams had strong performances from Lawson and Tsunoda with them finishing 5th and 6th respectively, making it Lawson’s highest finish for Racing Bulls.
2026 Expectations
It is expected for Antonelli to continue to add to his impressive trophy collection. With P5 last year, it will be a track that brings confidence to the young Italian. On the other side of the garage, George will be hoping to take back-to-back podiums at the street circuit and improve on his previous P5 finish in Madrid.
A disappointing weekend from Ferrari in Spain with Leclerc finishing fourth and Hamilton having to retire with a brake issue, will mean the Tifosi are hoping for a strong result at a track they know well. McLaren are on the up in the second half of this season, particularly with defending champion Norris taking pole position in Madrid. The British team will be hoping to repeat their 2024 success and take home 25 points and continue to challenge for the constructors championship.
Weekend Schedule in AZT (GMT +4)
Due to Azerbaijan's National Remembrance Day held on Sunday the 27th, Formula One has moved the usual schedule forward by a day, meaning the Grand Prix will be held on the Saturday rather than the usual Sunday.
Free Practice One:
Thursday 24th September 12:30 - 13:30
Free Practice Two:
Thursday 24th September 16:00 - 17:00
Free Practice Three:
Friday 25th September 12:30 - 13:00
Qualifying:
Friday 25th September 16:00 - 17:00
Grand Prix:
Saturday 26th September 15:00 - 17:00
Article written by Alice Seager ©️Alice Seager 2026
