Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix gets underway in Baku

The Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix gets underway in Baku on Thursday, September 24, with the opening day featuring two Formula 1 free practice sessions and a full programme of Formula 2 action.

According to news agency Report, Formula 2 will begin the day with a free practice session, followed by two qualifying sessions, while Formula 1 drivers will take part in their first and second practice sessions.

The Baku City Circuit features 20 corners and 51 laps, with the total race distance set at 306.049 kilometres.

The Azerbaijani capital first hosted a Formula 1 race in 2016, when the event was held as the European Grand Prix. It was subsequently renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a title under which the race has been held for the following seven years, apart from 2020, when the event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nico Rosberg won the inaugural race in Baku in 2016. Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen then took victories in subsequent editions. Perez became a two-time Baku winner in 2023, while Oscar Piastri won in 2024 and Verstappen took the 2025 victory.

Heading into this year's race, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 292 points. His teammate George Russell is second on 211 points, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton sits third with 191.

Mercedes leads the constructors' standings with 503 points, followed by Ferrari on 358 and McLaren on 306.

Thursday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule:

• 10:00 — Formula 2 free practice
• 12:30 — Formula 1 first free practice
• 14:00 — Formula 2 first qualifying session
• 14:30 — Formula 2 second qualifying session
• 16:00 — Formula 1 second free practice

By Tamilla Hasanova