F1 returns to the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend and round 15 of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli continued his brilliant form at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out, winning the first event held on the new Madrid street track after benefiting from a well-timed safety car period early on. Antonelli now leads the world championship by 81 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Max Verstappen finished second in Madrid with pole-sitter Lando Norris having to settle for third. Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire after a brake issue in his Ferrari car and the Briton now trails Antonelli by a mammoth 101 points with nine rounds remaining.
This year’s race in Baku will take place on a Saturday because Sunday, 27 September marks Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, with the whole schedule shifting forward by one day to avoid a clash with a national day of mourning.
Follow live updates from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
F1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Round 15 of the 2026 F1 season takes place in Baku
- Qualifying on Friday takes place at 1pm (BST)
- Max Verstappen quickest in FP3; Russell 2nd; Hamilton 3rd
- Kimi Antonelli has an 81-point lead in the world championship
Constructor standings ahead of Azerbaijan GP
11:06 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 503 points
2. Ferrari - 358 points
3. McLaren - 306 points
4. Red Bull - 230 points
5. Racing Bulls - 77 points
6. Alpine - 68 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Audi - 17 points
9. Williams - 11 points
10. Aston Martin - 3 points
11. Cadillac - 0 points
Top-10 in FP3
10:52 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. George Russell
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Pierre Gasly
7. Oscar Piastri
8. Lando Norris
9. Isack Hadjar
10. Franco Colapinto
What time is qualifying?
10:44 , Kieran Jackson
Qualifying in Baku will be at 1pm (BST) on Friday.
Max Verstappen fastest in FP3
10:37 , Kieran Jackson
Despite ending his final push lap by going into the turn 15 run-off area, Verstappen keeps top spot in the final stages.
George Russell just misses out on three practice session P1s, with Lewis Hamilton sneaking in in third - a tenth off Verstappen.
4-10: Antonelli, Leclerc, Gasly, Piastri, Norris, Hadjar, Colapinto
Max Verstappen goes quickest
10:29 , Kieran Jackson
Bit of a statement from the Red Bull driver!
He goes fastest by 0.099 secs to Russell - and three-tenths clear of Antonelli.
Verstappen up to P2
10:25 , Kieran Jackson
The Dutchman now just a tenth off Russell, fastest with a 1:44:021 as the soft-tyre runs come in now.
3-10: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Hadjar, Bortoleto, Ocon
Final five minutes of practice!
George Russell quickest
10:09 , Kieran Jackson
It’s been mainly race runs so far, with Russell quickest by 0.162 secs over Leclerc.
Antonelli in third, with top-five filled by Hamilton and Verstappen.
Expect the qualifying simulation laps to come in now though...
Max Verstappen goes off
10:06 , Kieran Jackson
The Red Bull driver leaves the track at turn 15: “If for once this f***ing car wouldn’t jump like a kangaroo, my god!”
Lewis Hamilton also locked up at turn 1, while replays show that Stroll touched the wall at turn 1 and that ruined the steering in his Aston Martin car.
Lance Stroll stops
10:01 , Kieran Jackson
On the outside of turn 4, Stroll has stopped his Aston Martin car.
And he’s getting out of the car. That may well be his session done...
Pierre Gasly quickest early on
09:48 , Kieran Jackson
Only half of the grid out on track in the first 15 minutes, with Alpine’s Gasly on top - six-tenths clear of Liam Lawson and nine-tenths ahead of Alex Albon.
More times to come in now though...
Top-10 - driver standings
09:42 , Kieran Jackson
Antonelli has a 81-point lead in the world championship heading into Baku.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 292 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 211 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 191 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 186 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 167 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 145 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 120 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 71 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 59 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 41 points
Start times this weekend:
09:37 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 25 September
- Qualifying: 1pm
Saturday 26 September
- Race: 12pm
FP3 underway
09:35 , Kieran Jackson
The third and final hour of practice has just got underway in Baku.
And if Thursday was all about sun, Friday is all about wind... it’s pretty noticeable down on track!
F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
09:32 , Kieran Jackson
F1 returns to the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend and round 15 of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli continued his brilliant form at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out, winning the first event held on the new Madrid street track after benefiting from a well-timed safety car period early on. Antonelli now leads the world championship by 81 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Max Verstappen finished second in Madrid with pole-sitter Lando Norris having to settle for third. Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire after a brake issue in his Ferrari car and the Briton now trails Antonelli by a mammoth 101 points with nine rounds remaining.
This year’s race in Baku will take place on a Saturday because Sunday, 27 September marks Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, with the whole schedule shifting forward by one day to avoid a clash with a national day of mourning.
