Formula 1 heads to the Baku City Circuit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the championship battle entering the first round of a triple-header.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Azerbaijan with an 81-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after consecutive victories in Italy and Madrid.
McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are all expected to fight for victory, while Isack Hadjar will return to action for Red Bull after missing the last three races with a wrist injury.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including the weekend schedule and our predictions for the podium.
Weekend schedule
The weekend begins on Thursday, September 24, with FP1 scheduled for 9:30am BST and followed by FP2 at 1:00pm.
Friday will feature the final practice session at 9:30am before qualifying gets underway at 1:00pm.
The main event takes place on Saturday, September 26, with lights out scheduled for 12:00pm.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday slot due to Azerbaijan Remembrance Day on September 27.
Race preview
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has become one of the most unpredictable races on the Formula 1 calendar since Baku joined the schedule in 2016.
The Baku City Circuit combines long straights with tight corners, creating a unique challenge for drivers and teams.
The circuit features the longest straight on the F1 calendar at 1.4 miles, with drivers reaching speeds of more than 200mph and plenty of opportunities for overtaking.
The track then winds through Baku’s historic old city, including the narrow section around Turns Eight and Nine.
The castle section is just 7.6 metres wide, leaving very little room for error around the street circuit.
Mercedes arrive in Baku with plenty of confidence after Antonelli claimed consecutive victories at Monza and Madrid.
However, McLaren have also found strong form in recent races, with Lando Norris taking three pole positions and two victories across the last four rounds.
The team will bring further upgrades to the MCL40 this weekend, while its rotating H-Wing will return after being absent in Madrid.
McLaren expect Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to provide competition at the front, with all four teams considered capable of fighting for victory.
The weather is expected to remain warm and dry throughout the weekend, with temperatures reaching the mid-20s.
Baku will also mark the return of Hadjar, who has recovered from the wrist injury that forced him to miss the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.
The Red Bull driver will return to the cockpit on Thursday, with Liam Lawson moving back to Racing Bulls after deputising for Hadjar during the previous three races.
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Predictions in Baku and drivers to look out for
With four teams expected to compete for victory, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could produce another closely contested race.
Here are some of the names we could expect to see on the podium this weekend.
1 – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Antonelli arrives in Baku with a sizable advantage at the top of the championship after winning the last two races.
The Mercedes driver has established himself as the driver to beat in the 2026 title race and will be looking to extend his lead during the first race of the triple-header.
Baku’s long straights could also suit Mercedes, with engine performance and energy deployment expected to play an important role.
Antonelli finished fourth in last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix and will be hoping to go one better this time around.
With Mercedes continuing to show strong race pace, Antonelli is our pick to take victory in Baku.
2 – Lando Norris (McLaren)
Norris heads to Azerbaijan with plenty of momentum after taking three pole positions across the last four races.
The McLaren driver has also claimed two victories during that period and was only denied another win in Madrid after a poorly timed Virtual Safety Car pit-stop.
McLaren’s latest upgrades could provide Norris with another boost, particularly around a circuit where straight-line performance is crucial.
The return of the team’s H-Wing could also help improve the MCL40’s performance along Baku’s long main straight.
Norris should therefore remain firmly in contention for victory, with another podium finish our prediction.
3 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Verstappen completes our predicted podium after Red Bull showed signs of closing the gap to the front-running teams.
The Dutchman has yet to win a race in 2026 but remains one of the drivers capable of taking advantage of Baku’s unpredictable nature.
The long main straight could suit the Red Bull, while Verstappen’s experience could prove valuable around the narrow sections of the circuit.
With Red Bull expected to be part of the four-way fight for victory, Verstappen is our pick to finish third.
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4 – George Russell (Mercedes)
Russell is another driver who should be firmly in contention at Baku.
Mercedes’ pace at Monza and Madrid suggests the team should arrive in Azerbaijan with a competitive package, although the unique characteristics of the street circuit could alter the pecking order.
Russell has also remained a consistent presence near the front throughout the season.
If Antonelli or the leading McLaren drivers encounter problems, Russell could be ready to capitalise and challenge for another podium.
5 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Leclerc is another driver worth watching around the streets of Baku.
Ferrari have shown flashes of strong pace during the 2026 season, while the team’s straight-line performance could make it competitive on the longest straight in Formula 1.
The Monegasque driver also has previous success in Azerbaijan, making him a potential threat if Ferrari can find the right balance between low-speed performance and straight-line speed.
A podium could be within reach for Leclerc, particularly if the race produces the incidents and strategy changes that have become synonymous with Baku.
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