No sprint race planned for 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, FIA confirms

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will not feature a sprint race as part of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, the schedule by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) confirmed.

The decision marks the third consecutive year that the Baku City Circuit will be excluded from hosting a sprint event, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

As detailed in the FIA’s official race calendar, sprint races in 2026 are scheduled to take place during Grand Prix weekends in China, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Singapore. Among these, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore will be hosting sprint races in this format for the first time, highlighting Formula 1’s ongoing strategy to diversify the locations of these shorter-format events.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix made its sprint debut in 2023, becoming a key part of F1’s evolving weekend structure. The inaugural Baku sprint was won by Sergio Pérez, representing Red Bull Racing, in a performance that contributed significantly to his title campaign that season.

However, the sprint format was removed from the Azerbaijan GP schedule in both 2024 and 2025, and now, the latest FIA calendar confirms its continued absence for 2026.

A sprint is a short race that covers 100 km -- or about one-third of a typical grand prix distance -- and lasts about 30 minutes. This shorter length encourages a more dynamic and less strategic race. Unlike a grand prix, a sprint race has no pit stops. Just flat-out, aggressive racing from start to finish.

The Baku street circuit, which hosted its first Grand Prix in 2016, is considered one of the most spectacular on the Formula 1 calendar, combining narrow sections in the historic city centre with a high-speed straight along the Caspian Sea promenade.

This year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from September 19 to 21.

By Vafa Guliyeva