F1 Azerbaijan GP Runs Saturday as Baku Marks 10th Year on Calendar

Formula 1's Baku weekend shifts a day earlier, with the race on Saturday and championship leader Kimi Antonelli chasing a third straight win.

Formula 1 heads to Baku this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 15th round of the 2026 season and the 10th year the street circuit has featured on the calendar. The venue first hosted a race in 2016 as the European Grand Prix and has run as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017, missing only the 2020 season.

The weekend schedule has moved forward by one day because Azerbaijan observes Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27. Media day is Wednesday, practice sessions run Thursday, final practice and qualifying take place Friday, and the race starts Saturday at 3pm local time.

Energy management is expected to dominate driver feedback under the 2026 power unit rules. Baku's long straight will drain battery reserves, and the need to harvest energy between Turns 2 and 3 will shape how drivers handle braking into Turn 1.

The race is Mercedes' final event before a major upgrade package arrives in Malaysia on October 2-4. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli has won the last two races and holds an 81-point lead over teammate George Russell, who effectively conceded his title chances at the previous round in Madrid.

Oscar Piastri returns to a circuit where his title challenge unraveled last year with a qualifying crash, a jumped start and a race-day incident. The McLaren driver has not won since the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix.