George Russell led FP1 with 1:45.387, 0.400s clear of Max Verstappen.

24 SEPT12:00

22 rows · COMPLETEFP2

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

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25 SEPT08:30

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25 SEPT12:00

UPCOMINGQualifying

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26 SEPT11:00

UPCOMINGRace

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WEEKEND READ

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

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WEEKEND TIMELINE

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PRACTICEFP2

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

22 stored classification rows · 24 Sept, 12:00 UTC

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PRACTICEFP1

George Russell led FP1 with 1:45.387, 0.400s clear of Max Verstappen.

22 stored classification rows · 24 Sept, 08:30 UTC

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WEEKEND BRIEFING

What matters this weekend

8 enriched · 8 shown

TECHNICAL · 1 SOURCE · EDITORIAL

Williams’ Baku upgrade is a recovery step, not a reset

For the Azerbaijan GP, Williams is introducing a major upgrade focused largely on weight reduction, with aerodynamic changes as well. The context is a difficult season: after taking fifth in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Williams is ninth after 14 rounds in 2026. The Race’s contributors caution that getting closer to the weight limit could recover performance and improve ballast options, but is unlikely to transform the car’s competitive position on its own.

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KEY POINTS

Williams has 11 points and is ninth in the 2026 constructors’ standings after 14 rounds; it had 59 more points at the same stage in 2025.
The Baku package focuses mainly on reducing weight and also includes aerodynamic changes.
The Race’s contributors describe the upgrade as catch-up, not a likely route to becoming a top-six or Q3 car immediately.
The analysis cites insufficient downforce, handling issues and a high-rake concept that has not worked as intended among Williams’ challenges.
The Race identifies the start of 2027 as a critical test of whether Williams has addressed its recurring preparation and car-performance problems.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

PERSONNEL · 8 SOURCES · EDITORIAL

Hadjar cleared to return for Red Bull at the Azerbaijan GP

Red Bull has moved from assessing Hadjar’s fitness to confirming his return for Baku, saying he has made a full recovery. He missed the Netherlands, Italy and Spain races after injuring his wrist during summer-break training. Lawson, who stood in at Red Bull, returns to Racing Bulls; Tsunoda, who covered Lawson there, goes back to reserve duties.

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KEY POINTS

Hadjar missed three races with a wrist injury sustained during training over the summer break.
Red Bull confirmed on September 22 that Hadjar would return at Baku after making a full recovery.
Lawson returns to Racing Bulls after deputising for Hadjar; Tsunoda returns to his reserve role.
Before the confirmation, team principal Laurent Mekies said Red Bull would assess Hadjar and use a simulator, prioritising his recovery over a rushed return.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

TEAM · 1 SOURCE · EDITORIAL

Ferrari target cleaner Baku weekend as execution concerns overshadow pace

Vasseur has made clean weekend execution Ferrari’s explicit priority for Baku, following a run in which Leclerc’s Belgium second place was their sole podium in five rounds. Rosberg has sharpened the diagnosis, identifying strategy and communication as recurring shortcomings rather than a lack of outright speed. The team therefore enters this weekend under pressure to convert competitive moments into results.

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KEY POINTS

Ferrari have taken one podium in the last five rounds: Leclerc finished second in Belgium.
In Madrid, Hamilton was provisionally fastest after the first Q3 runs but qualified fourth.
Vasseur says Baku requires confidence, strong execution and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Rosberg attributes Ferrari’s missed opportunities to strategy and communication, while judging their pace close to the leaders.
Ferrari trail Mercedes by 145 points; McLaren have outscored them in the last four rounds and are 52 points behind.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

TECHNICAL · 1 SOURCE · EDITORIAL

Six technical questions to shape F1’s Baku weekend

The main fresh developments are hardware choices for Baku: Williams is set to race a new lighter chassis, Aston Martin is expected to bring lighter parts, Cadillac has approved the ADUO 2 engine for Sergio Perez, and McLaren will reinstate its low-drag H-wing while assessing another package. These arrive against a circuit-specific backdrop: Baku rewards efficiency, and its long straight and slow corners will put energy deployment, brake temperatures and tyre temperatures under scrutiny.

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KEY POINTS

Williams’s new chassis is intended to cut weight and uses manufacturing processes James Vowles says are unlike those of other cars on the grid; the team is not promising a game-changing leap.
Aston Martin is expected to introduce lighter components as it moves closer to the 768kg minimum weight, while winding down its development rate after its Hungarian GP overhaul.
Cadillac will run Ferrari’s ADUO 2 engine in Sergio Perez’s car in Baku; Valtteri Bottas is due to wait longer.
McLaren plans to bring back its low-drag H-wing, first raced at Monza, and evaluate another upgrade package.
Energy deployment on the long run from Turn 16 to Turn 1 may depend on how much drivers can take the fast Turn 18/19 sequence flat and use it to harvest energy or maintain speed elsewhere on the lap.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

TECHNICAL · 1 SOURCE · EDITORIAL

Four active rear-wing approaches face a Baku speed test

Anderson’s comparison sets out how the four active-wing concepts differ in straight mode and during the return to cornering mode, giving the Baku weekend a specific technical storyline beyond the general importance of straight-line speed. He reports that McLaren’s flip-flop design, raced only at Monza so far, is due back in Baku. The piece does not report a new regulation or a measured performance ranking from Baku.

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KEY POINTS

The regulations require the wing transition between cornering and straight modes to occur within 0.4 seconds, according to Anderson.
Anderson describes four broad concepts, with differences in flap movement, drag reduction and the way airflow is restored when the wing closes.
He says the flip-flop concept is used consistently by Ferrari and Red Bull, while McLaren has used its version selectively and is bringing it back for Baku.
Anderson considers the Mercedes-style concept the strongest overall based on poles, wins and points at the time of writing, while noting its continuity with earlier DRS design knowledge.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

OTHER · 2 SOURCES · EDITORIAL

Azerbaijan GP moves to Saturday as Baku opens 2026’s flyaway triple-header

The weekend’s defining scheduling detail is confirmed: the Grand Prix is set for Saturday, September 26, to avoid Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday. Practice starts Thursday and qualifying takes place Friday, making Baku the opening round of a flyaway triple-header. The preview also places the event in the title context, reporting Antonelli’s 81-point lead and two consecutive wins entering the weekend.

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KEY POINTS

The Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at 12pm UK time; qualifying is Friday at 1pm UK time.
The opening two F1 practice sessions are scheduled for Thursday, September 24; final practice is Friday morning.
The Saturday date is linked to Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27.
Baku starts a triple-header that continues with Malaysia and Singapore.
The 3.7-mile street circuit features a 1.4-mile main straight and a narrow castle-section chicane; the source says drivers can exceed 200mph on the straight and the castle passage is 7.6 metres wide between barriers.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

DRIVER · 4 SOURCES · EDITORIAL

Hamilton rejects reports he sought Ferrari staff changes

Hamilton has publicly rejected reports that he pushed Vasseur to make personnel changes, saying he had never asked for anyone on his team to be replaced. The reports emerged after a difficult run for Ferrari and Hamilton’s call for clearer rules of engagement following his Monza incident with Leclerc. His statement distinguishes his criticism of operational issues from a demand to remove staff.

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KEY POINTS

Hamilton issued his denial in an Instagram post on Thursday before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
He said he had not asked for any member of his team to be replaced and expressed support for their work.
After being forced wide by Leclerc at Monza, Hamilton had called for clearer rules of engagement; Leclerc later admitted fault in Ferrari’s driver talks.
Sky Sports reported Hamilton was 101 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli with nine rounds remaining, and had scored eight points across the previous two races.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

SPORTING · 1 SOURCE · EDITORIAL

Baku’s Saturday race reshapes the opening of F1’s first 2026 triple-header

For the first time in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s history, the race is scheduled for Saturday, with practice moved to Thursday and qualifying to Friday to accommodate Remembrance Day celebrations. The event also begins the 2026 season’s first triple-header. The anniversary of F1’s arrival in Azerbaijan dates back to the 2016 European Grand Prix; the more immediate change for this weekend is the altered schedule.

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KEY POINTS

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday; practice is on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.
The schedule change is to accommodate Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day celebrations.
The weekend begins the season’s first triple-header.
Baku’s mix of long straights, heavy braking and a particularly tight Old City section makes setup and a measured build-up through practice important, according to Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu.
Haas drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon describe the team’s recent form and Monza update positively, but these are team assessments ahead of the event.

FULL STORYRead the full brief, context and evidence→

DRIVER WEEKEND

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P1RUSGeorge RussellMercedes

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

Latest stored evidence first

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

George Russell led FP1 with 1:45.387, 0.400s clear of Max Verstappen.

What matters this weekend

Williams’ Baku upgrade is a recovery step, not a reset

Hadjar cleared to return for Red Bull at the Azerbaijan GP

Ferrari target cleaner Baku weekend as execution concerns overshadow pace

Six technical questions to shape F1’s Baku weekend

Four active rear-wing approaches face a Baku speed test

Azerbaijan GP moves to Saturday as Baku opens 2026’s flyaway triple-header

Hamilton rejects reports he sought Ferrari staff changes

Baku’s Saturday race reshapes the opening of F1’s first 2026 triple-header

Session-by-session progression

Open every available session

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Azerbaijan Grand Prix

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

Latest stored evidence first

George Russell led FP2 with 1:43.347, 0.552s clear of Kimi Antonelli.

George Russell led FP1 with 1:45.387, 0.400s clear of Max Verstappen.

What matters this weekend

Williams’ Baku upgrade is a recovery step, not a reset

Hadjar cleared to return for Red Bull at the Azerbaijan GP

Ferrari target cleaner Baku weekend as execution concerns overshadow pace

Six technical questions to shape F1’s Baku weekend

Four active rear-wing approaches face a Baku speed test

Azerbaijan GP moves to Saturday as Baku opens 2026’s flyaway triple-header

Hamilton rejects reports he sought Ferrari staff changes

Baku’s Saturday race reshapes the opening of F1’s first 2026 triple-header

Session-by-session progression

Open every available session