Round 15 of 22 · Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

3:00 PM GMT+4 · Baku · Baku

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Baku

Baku, Azerbaijan · Asia/Baku

Baku City Circuit is a 6.003 km (3.730 miles) street circuit winding through the Azerbaijani capital along the Caspian Sea waterfront. Its 20 corners span a 51-lap race distance of 306.049 km. The circuit joined F1 in 2016 and includes the longest straight on the calendar at over 2.2 km, where cars reach 370 km/h. Charles Leclerc holds the lap record at 1:43.009, set in 2019.

The layout creates the most dramatic speed differential of any circuit. The castle section through Turns 7 and 8 is so narrow that two cars cannot pass side by side, forcing drivers to commit fully to any overtaking move before they arrive. The track then opens onto the 2.2 km waterfront blast, the longest flat-out section in F1, where two DRS zones produce side-by-side racing at extraordinary speeds. Turn 1 is a tight 90-degree left-hander with a heavy braking zone, the main passing point on the lap. Turn 15 provides another overtaking opportunity before the run to the main straight.

Baku has produced some of the most unpredictable races in recent memory. On 25 June 2017, the race featured a red flag, a safety car restart clash between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, and Daniel Ricciardo winning from midfield. On 6 June 2021, Max Verstappen suffered a tyre failure while leading on the final laps, and Lewis Hamilton’s restart error let Sergio Perez take victory. On 12 June 2022, Verstappen won after both Ferraris retired with reliability failures. Drama is not an occasional feature of Baku; it is the baseline expectation.

The timezone is Asia/Baku at AZT (UTC+4). A 14:00 local start is 10:00 GMT and 06:00 EDT. European fans get a late-morning race, while early risers on the US East Coast can catch it before breakfast. Asian viewers get an evening slot at 18:00 CST and 19:00 JST. Check Azerbaijan time and Baku time for conversions.

September in Baku is warm and dry, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and a breeze off the Caspian Sea. The city skyline, mixing medieval architecture with modern glass towers, provides one of the most visually striking backdrops in Formula 1. Baku’s Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the waterfront promenade are within walking distance of the circuit, making it an appealing destination for travelling fans.

See the full race schedule and session times at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix page.

Live Race Tracker

When the Azerbaijan Grand Prix goes live, this page transforms into a real-time race tracker. Every car plotted on the Baku circuit map, updating multiple times per second. No app to install, no subscription required.

The tracker connects directly to F1's official timing feed via WebSocket and streams live data to your browser: race positions, gap to leader, interval to car ahead, tire compound, pit stop count, and lap times for all 20 drivers.

Click any driver to see their full race data: fastest lap, last lap time, grid position, tire strategy with stint history, and points scored. The driver card follows their car on the circuit map showing position and gap in real time.

Team radio messages appear in a live feed as they are broadcast. These are the actual audio recordings from the pit wall: engineer instructions, driver reactions, pit calls, and celebrations. Each message has a play button. During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, expect 40 to 60 radio clips across all teams.

Race control decisions appear instantly: safety car deployments, yellow flags, driver investigations, penalties, and DRS activation. You see what the stewards are looking at before the television broadcast catches up.

The tracker activates automatically 30 minutes before the session starts and stays connected through red flags, weather delays, and safety cars. If the session is interrupted, the tracker waits and reconnects when racing resumes.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku City Circuit starts at 14:00 AZT (UTC+4) on Saturday 26 September. The street circuit is 6.003 km long with 20 corners and features one of the longest straights in Formula 1 at 2.2 km along the Caspian seafront.

This is not a sprint weekend. Practice, qualifying, and the race run across the standard three-day format.

The Baku City Circuit is chaos theory applied to motorsport. The combination of a 2.2 km straight along the Caspian seafront, a medieval old town section barely wide enough for two cars, and walls that punish the smallest mistake makes this one of the most unpredictable venues on the calendar. The circuit threads past the Flame Towers, through the 12th-century fortress walls, and along the waterfront promenade. Turn 8, the tight left-hander at the castle, is one of the most visually striking corners in Formula 1.

Baku has produced extraordinary drama since joining the calendar in 2016. Nico Rosberg won the inaugural race for Mercedes in a dominant lights-to-flag victory. In 2017, Daniel Ricciardo took victory for Red Bull after a chaotic race, and Sebastian Vettel deliberately swerved into Lewis Hamilton’s car behind the safety car, one of the most shocking on-track incidents in years. The 2021 race saw Max Verstappen suffer a high-speed tire blowout on the main straight while leading, handing Sergio Perez victory. In 2023, Sergio Perez won both the sprint and the main race in the sprint weekend format.

For European viewers, the 14:00 AZT start translates to 12:00 CEST and 11:00 BST, making it one of the more accessible flyaway races with a comfortable lunchtime watch. North American fans face an early start at 06:00 Eastern and 03:00 Pacific. Asian viewers get a pleasant afternoon or early evening slot at 18:00 SGT and 18:00 CST. Australian fans watch at 20:00 AEST. Check Azerbaijan time for the exact start in your location.

The long straight rewards power unit efficiency and top speed, while the tight section demands mechanical grip and driver confidence. Under the 2026 regulations, the interplay between active aero on the straight and grip through the castle section should make strategy even more varied. Safety cars are not a possibility here; they are a near-certainty. If you are only watching a handful of races this season, make Baku one of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in my timezone?

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time in Baku on 2026-09-26. This page automatically converts the start time to your local timezone.

Where is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix held?

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place at Baku in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a sprint weekend?

No, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix follows the standard weekend format with practice, qualifying, and the race.

Can I watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix live timing for free?

Yes. whensport.com provides a free live race tracker for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with real-time car positions on a circuit map, live standings, gap times, tire strategy, pit stops, and playable team radio audio. No app or subscription required. The tracker activates 30 minutes before the session starts.

Can I listen to Azerbaijan Grand Prix team radio live?

Yes. The whensport.com live tracker streams real F1 team radio audio during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. You hear actual driver-engineer conversations as they happen, with a play button for each message. Expect 40 to 60 radio clips during the race.