Formula 1 Heads to Baku for Rare Saturday Race on BBC Coverage
The short version
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix runs 24-26 September in Baku, round 15 of the 2026 F1 season
- Saturday's 51-lap race starts at 12:00 BST, the event's first Saturday running
- BBC coverage: race commentary on Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport app; practice and qualifying on 5 Sports Extra
- Kimi Antonelli leads the championship by 81 points after winning the Madring Spanish Grand Prix
- Isack Hadjar returns for Red Bull after missing three races with a wrist injury
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix runs 24-26 September in Baku, with BBC radio, app, and podcast coverage carrying the weekend's sessions.
Formula 1's 15th round of the 2026 campaign takes place in Baku, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix scheduled across 24-26 September. Saturday's 51-lap race gets underway at 12:00 BST, marking the first time the event has been run on a Saturday. The shift came at the request of the race promoter and government stakeholders, as the weekend otherwise overlaps with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day on 27 September.
BBC coverage includes live commentary of the race on Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up beginning at 11:00. Smart speaker users can tune in by asking the device to play 5 Live. Practice and qualifying sessions on Thursday and Friday air on Radio 5 Sports Extra, with the post-race show available on BBC iPlayer and YouTube for every grand prix this season.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli arrives in Baku holding an 81-point championship advantage following his victory at the inaugural Madring Spanish Grand Prix. Lando Norris of McLaren lost the lead during a virtual safety car period after setting the fastest qualifying lap and finished third, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen crossed the line second after ceding a spot to Lewis Hamilton early on. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar is set to race again after sitting out the previous three rounds with a wrist injury.
Forecasts call for sunshine throughout the weekend, with Thursday practice sessions reaching 28C and both qualifying on Friday and Saturday's race expected around 25C, accompanied by a moderate breeze on race day.
