The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September 2026 at the Baku City Circuit. This is not the usual Friday-to-Sunday layout. Sunday 27 September is Azerbaijan’s national day of remembrance for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and hence, the race weekend is moved forward a day out of respect. This is a standard weekend for Formula 1, though Formula 2 runs its own Sprint race as part of the support programme. The Grand Prix itself starts at 15:00 local time on Saturday.
Baku F1 Weekend Schedule
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time on Saturday 26 September 2026. Qualifying is on Friday at 16:00. Gate times for 2026 haven’t been confirmed by the organiser yet.
All times are local (Baku, AZT, UTC+4). Formula 1 sessions are shown in bold. Press conferences and media-only sessions aren’t included, since they’re not open to general admission ticket holders.
Thursday 24 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 2 – Practice | 10:00 to 10:45 |
| F1 Car Presentation | 11:00 to 12:00 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 1 | 12:30 to 13:30 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Qualifying Session 1 | 14:00 to 14:20 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Qualifying Session 2 | 14:30 to 14:50 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 2 | 16:00 to 17:00 |
Friday 25 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 2 – Sprint Race (21 laps) | 08:15 to 09:05 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 3 | 12:30 to 13:30 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Feature Race 1 (29 laps) | 14:15 to 15:20 |
| Formula 1 – Qualifying | 16:00 to 17:00 |
Saturday 26 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 2 – Feature Race 2 (29 laps) | 11:00 to 12:05 |
| Formula 1 – Drivers’ Presentation | 13:00 to 13:30 |
| Formula 1 – National Anthem | 14:44 to 14:46 |
| Formula 1 – Grand Prix (51 laps) | 15:00 to 17:00 |
Track running starts at 10:00 on Thursday, 08:15 on Friday, and 11:00 on Saturday.
Baku F1 Gate opening and closing times
The organiser hasn’t confirmed 2026 gate times yet – azerbaijanf1.com states directly that opening hours for this year “are not yet known.” A 2023 pattern (gates opening in the morning, roughly in line with the day’s first session) exists, but per our accuracy standard, we’re not carrying that over as a stated fact for 2026. We’ll update this section as soon as the organiser confirms.
Wednesday 23 September: pit lane walk
4-day ticket and grandstand or hospitality package holders get to enjoy the Baku circuit pit lane walk on Wednesday 23 September, from 16:30 to 18:00. This is the day before the race weekend itself begins.
When to arrive each day
Thursday opens the weekend. Formula 1’s first session isn’t until 12:30, so a mid-morning arrival still catches the earlier Formula 2 sessions.
Friday starts early. Formula 2’s Sprint Race is the first session of the day, at 08:15 – if you want to see it, plan an early start.
Saturday is race day. The track goes quiet until Formula 2’s second Feature Race at 11:00, then builds through the Drivers’ Presentation and National Anthem to the Grand Prix at 15:00.
Timezone conversions
| Event | Baku (AZT) | UTC | UK (BST) | US East (EDT) | US West (PDT) |
| Qualifying (Fri) | 16:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 08:00 | 05:00 |
| Grand Prix (Sat) | 15:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 07:00 | 04:00 |
Watching from home
If you’re not attending in person, F1 TV Pro streams every session live worldwide. Broadcast rights vary by country, so check your local listings for the channel covering the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in your region.
FAQs About Baku timings and Schedule
1. What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
The Formula 1 race starts at 15:00 local time on Saturday 26 September 2026. Qualifying is the day before, at 16:00 on Friday.
2. Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday instead of Sunday?
Sunday 27 September is Azerbaijan’s national day of remembrance for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Organisers moved the whole race weekend forward a day, so the Grand Prix runs Thursday to Saturday instead of the usual Friday to Sunday.
3. What time do the gates open at Baku?
The organiser hasn’t confirmed 2026 gate times yet. We recommend checking closer to the event before you plan your journey.
4. Is there a pit lane walk at Baku?
Yes. It runs the day before the race weekend proper, on Wednesday 23 September, from 16:30 to 18:00. Ticket-tier eligibility for 2026 hasn’t been confirmed yet.
5. Is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a Sprint weekend?
No. Formula 1 runs a standard weekend format at Baku in 2026. Formula 2 runs its own Sprint race as part of the support programme, but this doesn’t affect the Formula 1 schedule.
6. What time is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in UK and US time?
The race starts at 12:00 in the UK, 07:00 US Eastern, and 04:00 US Pacific.
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