Formula 1 heads to the Baku City Circuit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The championship battle is now entering the first round of a triple-header.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Azerbaijan with an 81-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. He has also won the last two races in Italy and Madrid.
McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are all expected to fight for victory. Isack Hadjar will also return to action for Red Bull after missing the last three races with a wrist injury.
The Baku weekend will follow an unusual schedule. Practice takes place on Thursday, qualifying is on Friday and the Grand Prix is on Saturday.
The change comes because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Juliette White provides everything you need to know. The preview includes the weekend schedule and our predictions for the podium.
A unique street-circuit challenge
The Baku City Circuit combines long straights with tight corners. This creates one of the most distinctive challenges on the F1 calendar.
Its 1.4-mile main straight is the longest in Formula 1. Drivers can exceed 200mph there, while the layout also provides several overtaking opportunities.
The track then winds through Baku’s historic old city. The narrow section around Turns Eight and Nine is just 7.6 metres wide.
Warm and dry conditions are expected throughout the weekend. Temperatures could reach the mid-20s.
Race preview
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has become one of the most unpredictable races on the Formula 1 calendar. Baku joined the schedule in 2016.
Mercedes arrive with plenty of confidence. Antonelli has won the last two races at Monza and Madrid.
However, McLaren have also shown strong form. Lando Norris has taken three pole positions and two victories across the last four rounds.
McLaren will bring further upgrades to the MCL40 this weekend. The team’s rotating H-Wing will also return after being absent in Madrid.
McLaren expect Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to provide strong competition. All four teams are considered capable of fighting for victory.
Baku will also mark Hadjar’s return. The Red Bull driver has recovered from the wrist injury that kept him out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.
Hadjar will return to the cockpit on Thursday. Liam Lawson will move back to Racing Bulls after deputising for him during the previous three races.
Drivers to look out for
With four teams expected to compete for victory, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could produce another closely contested race.
Here are some of the names we could expect to see on the podium this weekend.
1 – Lando Norris (McLaren)
Norris heads to Azerbaijan with plenty of momentum after taking three pole positions across the last four races.
The McLaren driver has also claimed two victories during that period and was only denied another win in Madrid after a poorly timed Virtual Safety Car pit stop.
McLaren’s latest upgrades could provide Norris with another boost, particularly around a circuit where straight-line performance is crucial.
The return of the team’s H-Wing could also improve the MCL40’s performance along Baku’s long main straight, potentially giving Norris another advantage in the battle for victory.
Norris should therefore remain firmly in contention for victory, with another podium finish our prediction.
2 – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Antonelli arrives in Baku with a sizable advantage at the top of the championship after winning the last two races.
The Mercedes driver has established himself as the driver to beat in the 2026 title race and will be looking to extend his lead during the first race of the triple-header.
Baku’s long straights could also suit Mercedes, with engine performance and energy deployment expected to play an important role.
Antonelli finished fourth in last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix and will be hoping to go one better this time around.
With Mercedes continuing to show strong race pace, Antonelli is most likely to grab a podium in Baku.
3 – George Russell (Mercedes)
George Russell is another driver who should be firmly in contention in Baku.
Mercedes’ pace at Monza and Madrid suggests the team should arrive in Azerbaijan with a competitive package, although the unique characteristics of the street circuit could alter the pecking order.
Russell has also remained a consistent presence near the front throughout the season, making him a strong candidate to challenge for another podium finish in Azerbaijan, should Antonelli or the leading McLaren drivers encounter problems.
4 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Charles Leclerc is another driver worth watching around the streets of Baku.
Ferrari have shown flashes of strong pace throughout the 2026 season, while their straight-line performance could prove valuable on Baku’s long main straight.
The Monegasque driver also has a strong record at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, making him a potential threat if Ferrari can find the right balance between low-speed performance and straight-line speed.
A podium could be within reach for Leclerc, particularly if the race produces the incidents and strategic changes that have become synonymous with Baku.
5 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Verstappen completes our predicted podium after Red Bull showed signs of closing the gap to the front-running teams.
The Dutchman has yet to win a race in 2026 but remains one of the drivers capable of taking advantage of Baku’s unpredictable nature.
The long main straight could suit the Red Bull, while Verstappen’s experience could prove valuable around the narrow sections of the circuit.
With Red Bull expected to be part of the four-way fight for victory, Verstappen is our pick for a dark house.
Weekend schedule
The weekend begins on Thursday, September 24, with FP1 scheduled for 9:30am BST and followed by FP2 at 1:00pm.
Friday will feature the final practice session at 9:30am before qualifying gets underway at 1:00pm.
The main event takes place on Saturday, September 26, with lights out scheduled for 12:00pm.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday slot due to Azerbaijan Remembrance Day on September 27.
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