Formula 1 heads into an unusual Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend as qualifying takes place on Friday, September 25, with the main race scheduled for Saturday in Baku.
The change to the traditional F1 weekend schedule means fans will get to see the decisive qualifying session a day earlier than usual. The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has been brought forward by one day to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s annual Day of Remembrance, which takes place on September 27.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 4:00pm local time in Baku, giving drivers their final opportunity to secure the best possible starting positions for Saturday’s race.
For fans watching from the United Kingdom, qualifying will start at 1:00pm BST. The session will be particularly important as the Baku City Circuit is known for its long straights, tight corners and narrow margins, making track position a crucial factor.
The weekend got underway on Thursday with the opening two practice sessions. Free Practice 1 took place from 9:30am to 10:30am local time, followed by Free Practice 2 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
Drivers will then return to the circuit on Friday morning for the final practice session before the battle for pole position begins. Free Practice 3 is scheduled for 9:30am to 10:30am, giving teams one final opportunity to fine-tune their cars ahead of qualifying.
The qualifying session itself will run from 1:00pm to 2:00pm UK time, corresponding to 4:00pm to 5:00pm in Baku.
The shortened turnaround between qualifying and the race will add another element to an already unusual weekend. Teams will have limited time to analyse qualifying performance and prepare their cars for Saturday’s Grand Prix.
The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will then get underway on Saturday, September 26, at 12:00pm UK time, with the drivers battling for crucial championship points around the demanding Baku circuit.
With qualifying arriving earlier than normal, Formula 1 fans will not have to wait until Saturday to discover the starting grid. The fight for pole position is set to provide the first major showdown of the weekend before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself takes centre stage on Saturday.
