Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice, qualifying and race times, UK times, plus weather forecast

All the key BBC coverage details for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place from 24-26 September.

Race2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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All the key BBC coverage details for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place from 24-26 September.

WHAT CHANGED

The key change for this round is the race day: Baku’s Grand Prix will be held on Saturday, 26 September, rather than Sunday. Formula 1 said the change was made following a request from the local promoter and relevant government stakeholders. The race now falls one day before Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, a national day of mourning for military personnel who died during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. The weekend’s Friday practice and qualifying schedule remains part of the published programme.

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WHY IT MATTERS

The unusual Saturday schedule changes the usual rhythm of a Grand Prix weekend and puts the race directly ahead of Azerbaijan Remembrance Day. For championship context, Baku is the next opportunity for Antonelli’s rivals to respond after his Spanish Grand Prix win extended his lead. The forecast also points to a dry weekend, making the on-track sessions—not changing weather—the main variable highlighted in the preview.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

Watch how the teams and fans adapt to a Saturday race, with qualifying on Friday and lights out at 12:00 BST the following day. On track, the weekend follows Antonelli’s Spanish Grand Prix victory and 81-point championship lead; the source also reports that George Russell was fastest ahead of Antonelli in Baku practice. The published forecast is sunny, with temperatures around 25C for qualifying and the race.

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Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice, qualifying and race times, UK times, plus weather forecast

The complete story read

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