Baku Grand Prix moves to Saturday as Formula 1 avoids Remembrance Day clash
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 21, 2026
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Formula 1 will run the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday in Baku, a one-day shift that puts the race on an unusual timetable. The event will headline Round 15 of the Formula 1 season and cover 51 laps. Saturday marks the first time the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been staged on that day since it joined the calendar. Formula 1 made the change to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day, a national observance that honors those killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
The move also reflects a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and government stakeholders, who pushed for the race to stay clear of the memorial day. That gives the weekend a different rhythm from the usual Formula 1 format. Media duties are set for Wednesday, practice for Thursday and qualifying for Friday. The race itself sits at the center of the week’s schedule, with the revised order built around the country’s remembrance observance rather than the sport’s normal schedule.
That adjustment gives Baku a rare Saturday spotlight and places added emphasis on the lead-in days. Teams will still go through the full build-up, but the condensed sequence changes the feel of the event. The race weekend now moves from media day to practice, then qualifying, before finishing with the Grand Prix itself in the middle of the weekend. For Formula 1, the shift keeps the race on the calendar while respecting the local timing of a major national observance.
Saturday schedule shift
The race is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. BST, which is 3 p.m. local time in Baku, giving the event a mid-afternoon slot. Qualifying takes place Friday at 1 p.m. U.K. time, with Thursday’s practice session opening the on-track action and media commitments on Wednesday beginning the operational side of the weekend before cars reach the circuit.
The schedule also creates a different competitive rhythm for teams and drivers. A Saturday race changes the usual recovery window between qualifying and race day, so preparation has to happen quickly after Friday’s session. That makes the shortened wait to race day another factor teams must manage.
The event still carries the familiar structure fans expect from a Formula 1 weekend. Practice provides the first look at balance and setup. Qualifying decides the grid. The race follows soon after. The only real difference is the day on which the field takes the green light. Formula 1 has kept the core format in place, but the timing now aligns with the local calendar and moves the race away from the remembrance day conflict. It is a rare change, but the schedule still gives the Grand Prix its standard place at the center of the weekend.
Weather and coverage
Sunny conditions are forecast throughout the weekend in Baku, with temperatures expected to reach 27C on Thursday, 24C for Friday qualifying and around 25C for the race. Strong winds are expected on Friday, which could affect qualifying. The forecast suggests teams will face a cleaner weather picture overall with one potential complication on the day that matters for grid position.
The television and radio coverage is set across several platforms. BBC coverage will be available on Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. In the U.K. and Ireland, the event will also air live on Sky Sports F1 and the Sky Sports app, with streaming available on NOW for non-Sky customers. Highlights will follow shortly after the race, giving viewers a chance to catch the action even if they miss the live broadcast.
That broad coverage gives fans several ways to follow the weekend. The forecast suggests dry running, while the revised timetable keeps the race clear of the memorial day clash. Baku will stage the Grand Prix on Saturday this time.
