The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has opened at the Baku City Circuit, with the Azerbaijani capital hosting the race for the tenth time.
Track action began at 10:00 with Formula 2 free practice, followed by the first Formula 1 practice session at 12:30. The day also featured two Formula 2 qualifying sessions and concluded with the second Formula 1 free practice.
On September 25, Formula 1 drivers will return to the track for further practice, while Formula 2 will hold its sprint race. The Grand Prix itself will be run on Saturday, September 26, with 22 drivers from 11 teams on the grid.
At around 6 kilometers, the Baku circuit is among the longest on the Formula 1 calendar and features 20 corners. The track starts at Azadlig Square, passes Government House, runs along the walls of the Old City (Icherisheher) and continues onto Neftchilar Avenue before returning to the start. Its narrowest section, at turns 7 and 8, is only 7.6 meters wide, while the widest point reaches 13 meters. The anti-clockwise layout was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke.
With the route running past the Old City, the Maiden Tower and the Caspian seafront, the race will once again showcase Baku’s landmarks to millions of television viewers worldwide. The start-finish line and team garages are located on Azadlig Square.
This year, a new grandstand named “City” has been added in front of the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre. With seating for 678 spectators, it brings the circuit’s total grandstand capacity to more than 21,000.
Azerbaijan has hosted the race since 2016, when it debuted as the European Grand Prix and was won by Germany’s Nico Rosberg. Subsequent winners have included Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. The only year the event was not held was 2020, due to the pandemic.
