09:28
Unusually, it's not very windy out there at all in Baku.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2026 F1 season
© XPB Images
LIVE
F1 Baku LIVE: Updates from Azerbaijan Grand Prix Thursday practice
Live updates from Thursday's practices at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Baku
KEY MOMENTS
- Azerbaijan GP FP1 begins at 9:30am BST
- Unique Thursday-Saturday schedule for Baku
- Kimi Antonelli leads the championship
The 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship takes place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku street circuit.
This weekend’s race at Baku marks the beginning of a frantic run to the end of the campaign, with three triple-headers scheduled between now and 6 December.
The Azerbaijan race, which first featured on the calendar in 2016, has become a popular fixture during a season for its generally chaotic races.
Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds a commanding lead in the championship, following back-to-back victories at Monza and Madrid.
He is now 81 points clear of the field, with team-mate George Russell his nearest rival in runner-up spot currently.
Mercedes has won three times at Baku, though not since 2019 with Valtteri Bottas. But the power-demanding track is likely to favour the Mercedes engine.
Red Bull has been dominant at Baku, winning four of the last five races in Azerbaijan, but comes to the grand prix this season still chasing a first victory in 2026.
The Red Bull Ford power unit performed well at Monza and Spa, both tracks where a strong engine is important.
Red Bull returns to full strength this weekend, after Isack Hadjar was cleared to race following a hand injury that ruled him out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.
Ferrari comes to Baku looking to end its recent podium drought, with the Scuderia not appearing on a rostrum since the Belgian Grand Prix.
Carrying a recently updated power unit, there is a feeling that Ferrari could be a contender at Baku, though much will depend on improving its recent struggles with race management.
McLaren will also be hoping to benefit from its Mercedes power unit to build on its win from 2024 with Oscar Piastri.
This year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix is being staged from Thursday to Saturday, instead of the traditional Friday-Sunday format.
This is due to the country’s Remembrance Day on Sunday.
Azerbaijan GP Thursday schedule
FP1 - 9:30am BST - 10:30am BST
FP2 - 1pm BST - 2pm BST
24 Sep 2026
09:25
Conditions are good for this morning's first practice at Baku. Air temp is up at 28C, while track temp is almost 50C.
09:21
Just 10 minutes till pitlane opens in Baku.
09:10
We're just 20 minutes away from FP1 going green.
09:08
Ferrari getting some practice ahead of FP1.
09:04
Flavio Briatore threatens Franco Colapinto media blackout over fan abuse fallout
Yesterday, it emerged that Pierre Gasly and his family had been receiving abuse in the wake of the Madrid race after an incident with Alpine team-mate Franco Colapinto.
Now team advisor Flavio Briatore has issued a stern warning.
Flavio Briatore threatens Franco Colapinto media blackout over fan abuse fallout
Flavio Briatore, Alpine, 2026 Spanish GP
© XPB Images
08:56
McLaren, Red Bull’s big Baku F1 upgrades revealed in Mercedes hunt
McLaren and Red Bull have brought major update packages to Baku.
Find out all of the details below ⬇️
McLaren, Red Bull’s big Baku F1 upgrades revealed in Mercedes hunt
Red Bull and McLaren have brought big upgrades
08:46
WIth George Russell 81 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the standings, Baku is a big weekend for the Briton.
Sky F1's Karun Chandhok gives his thoughts ahead of track action starting at 9:30am today.
08:44
Updated traffic notes from FIA
The FIA has issued updated guidance for drivers to manage traffic during practice and qualifying sessions.
Traffic Management during Free Practices and Qualifying Session
• Cars on out laps or slow laps should keep extreme left (i.e. not “offline” in middle of track) from exit T16 through to Entry T18
• We consider that Teams / Drivers can and should manage traffic gaps before T18 (going as slowly as required being on the extreme left) to ensure that they can transit between the apex of T18 and apex of T19 without impeding an approaching car that is trying to set a competitive lap time.
• Cars on out laps or slow laps should keep “extreme” right exit T19 until they achieve relevant speed to open the following lap.
08:36
Hadjar is back for Red Bull
Isack Hadjar will make his return to action this weekend for Red Bull, having been absent for the last three rounds with a hand injury.
Isack Hadjar sheds light on his wrist injury recovery ahead of F1 return
Isack Hadjar is returning from his F1 injury lay-off in Baku
08:35
Kimi Antonelli leads the standings coming to Baku
Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds a commanding lead in the standings ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Here is what the points look like as of Thursday at Baku:
| 2026 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | |||||
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team | Wins | Points |
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 8 | 292 |
| 2 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 2 | 211 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1 | 191 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | 2 | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1 | 167 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 0 | 145 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | 0 | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 0 | 71 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 0 | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 0 | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | GBR | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 0 | 31 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | ARG | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 0 | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | TGR Haas F1 Team | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 0 | 7 |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams F1 Team | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams F1 Team | 0 | 5 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | TGR Haas F1 Team | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | JAP | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | FIN | Cadillac F1 Team | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | MEX | Cadillac F1 Team | 0 | 0 |
08:33
Now, you'll have noticed that it is, in fact, Thursday and not Friday. And F1 cars don't usually run on a Thursday.
Well, the Baku weekend this year is slightly different, with the race on Saturday to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day.
Check out all of the details below ⬇️
Why is F1 racing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a Saturday?
Baku plays host to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
08:31
Baku FP1 build-up
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix!
FP1 will begin at 9:30am BST.