Why The Azerbaijan GP is Happening on Saturday

What Happened

The 2026 Formula 1 season brings an unexpected twist this weekend as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place exceptionally on a Saturday, September 26.

During Friday's qualifying session on the challenging street circuit of Baku, Mercedes driver George Russell delivered a stellar performance. He secured pole position with a commanding lap, finishing nearly 0.8 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. McLaren's Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three.

Meanwhile, the session brought drama for championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Mercedes driver crashed out early after making a costly solo error at Turn 1, damaging his suspension and relegating him to a 16th-place start.

Why The Schedule Changed

Motorsport fans accustomed to traditional Sunday Grands Prix might wonder about the sudden shift. The race was moved to Saturday out of respect for Anım Günü (Memorial Day), a solemn national holiday in Azerbaijan observed on September 27.

The holiday commemorates fallen soldiers from the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. To honor local traditions and accommodate public commemorations, Formula 1 organizers and local authorities agreed to advance the main race by 24 hours.

Key Contenders and Struggles

While Russell dominated qualifying, the historic "Kings of Baku"—such as Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez—remain major factors to watch on race day. Verstappen showed strong pace during practice sessions in his Red Bull, keeping the competition tight.

At the other end of the grid, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto faced a tough outing with Audi. Despite the team introducing 14 new aerodynamic updates for the Baku weekend, both cars were eliminated in Q1. Bortoleto qualified 17th, setting up a steep uphill battle during Saturday's main event.

How to Watch

The 15th round of the 2026 F1 season gets underway at 08:00 AM (Brasília time) directly from the streets of Baku. Fans can follow the live broadcast on subscription networks and digital sports trackers.