F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Formula 1 is back in action as the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix gets underway at the Baku City Circuit. The unusual Saturday race weekend has shifted the entire F1 schedule forward by a day, with both Free Practice sessions taking place on Thursday, September 24.
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The focus now turns to F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE coverage from Baku, where teams will get their first proper opportunity to assess car performance, tyre behaviour and setup ahead of Friday’s qualifying session and Saturday’s Grand Prix.
The Baku City Circuit is one of the most distinctive venues on the Formula 1 calendar, combining long high-speed sections with tight corners around the Old City. The 6.003-kilometre street circuit will host the 15th round of the 2026 F1 season.
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F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP1 Timing and Thursday Schedule
According to the official Formula 1 timetable, F1 Free Practice 1 will begin at 12:30 PM local time in Baku and run until 1:30 PM. With Baku four hours ahead of UTC, the session will take place from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM IST for Indian viewers.
Formula 1’s second practice session is scheduled for 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time, which translates to 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM IST. FP3 and qualifying will follow on Friday, while the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself is scheduled for Saturday, September 26.
Here Is the Final F1 Azerbaijan GP FP2 Result:
6:32 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP2 Complete, Russell Sets the Pace
The chequered flag is out in Baku, bringing the opening day of track action at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to an end. George Russell finishes FP2 as the driver to beat after another strong showing for Mercedes.
Russell had earlier improved to 1:43.347, with Kimi Antonelli moving into second during qualifying simulations before teams switched their focus to longer runs.
6:28 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Russell Leads as FP2 Enters Final Minutes
George Russell continues to lead the way as FP2 enters its final minutes in Baku, with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli running second.
Max Verstappen is third, followed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The current top 10 is completed by Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar and Esteban Ocon.
6:23 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Long Runs Begin in FP2
The qualifying simulations are now over in Baku, with teams switching their focus to longer runs for the final part of FP2.
This should provide teams with more useful data on tyre performance and race pace.
6:19 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Russell Goes Even Faster
George Russell has lowered the benchmark again, setting a 1:43.347 to extend his advantage at the top.
Kimi Antonelli has moved into second, 0.552s behind his Mercedes team-mate.
6:15 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Hamilton Under Investigation
Lewis Hamilton is set to be investigated after the session following the incident involving Liam Lawson.
The Ferrari driver could face further scrutiny from the stewards once FP2 comes to an end.
6:14 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Lawson Furious After Hamilton Impeding Incident
Liam Lawson has complained strongly over the radio after encountering Lewis Hamilton at the final high-speed corner.
The Racing Bulls driver described the incident as “dangerous”, with the stewards potentially set to investigate the Ferrari driver.
6:11 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Norris Aborts Promising Lap
Lando Norris briefly went purple in Sector 1 but abandoned his lap before completing the run.
McLaren’s pace remains difficult to read as the team continues its FP2 programme.
6:09 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Verstappen Moves Up to P2
Max Verstappen has improved to second with a quicker lap, although he remains 0.400s behind George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli are currently fourth and fifth, both around a second off Russell’s benchmark.
6:07 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Russell Goes Seven-Tenths Clear
George Russell has produced a 1:43.759 to move further clear at the top of the FP2 timing sheet.
Charles Leclerc is currently second, while Verstappen and the two McLarens complete the top five.
5:31 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP2 Gets Underway in Baku
The second practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is officially underway.
Alpine, Cadillac and Racing Bulls are among the first teams to send their cars onto the Baku City Circuit.
5:30 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Antonelli Engine Change Confirmed
Mercedes has confirmed a power unit change for Kimi Antonelli following the hydraulic issue that ended his FP1 session early.
The replacement engine is from Antonelli’s existing pool, so no penalty is required.
5:25 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP2 About to Begin in Baku
The second practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is about to get underway at the Baku City Circuit.
George Russell topped FP1 for Mercedes with a 1:45.387, ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Attention now turns to FP2, with teams set to gather more data ahead of qualifying.
Full FP1 results and detailed analysis:
Read: F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 Results: George Russell Fastest in Baku, Kimi Antonelli Suffers Hydraulic Issue
3:04 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Baku Free Practice 1 results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:45.387 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:45.787 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:45.791 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:45.824 |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:46.265 |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:46.398 |
| 7 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:46.440 |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:46.601 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:46.624 |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:46.688 |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:46.871 |
| 12 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:46.893 |
| 13 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:46.939 |
| 14 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:46.981 |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:46.994 |
3:00 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP1 Ends in Baku
The chequered flag is out, bringing the opening F1 Azerbaijan GP practice session to an end.
FP1 is officially over at the Baku City Circuit. The full results and session report will now follow.
3:00 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Ocon Gets Going Again
Esteban Ocon is back on track after his brief stoppage at the pit exit.
That brings the F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 session to its scheduled end, with the final times now expected to settle shortly.
2:55 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Yellow Flag at Turn 7
A yellow flag is out at Turn 7, just before the castle section.
Liam Lindblad is the driver involved, with the incident coming as FP1 enters its final minutes.
2:50 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Ocon Jumps Into Top 10
Esteban Ocon has moved up to P7 for Haas with a lap time of 1:46.624.
He is currently ahead of both McLaren drivers, who remain in the pits and have yet to set a soft-tyre lap.
2:49 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Verstappen Leads With Just Over 10 Minutes Left
Max Verstappen is currently leading the F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 session with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The Red Bull driver has moved ahead of George Russell as the opening practice session enters its closing stages.
2:42 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Russell Leads Verstappen in FP1
George Russell continues to lead the opening practice session with a 1:45.387, followed by Max Verstappen at +0.400s.
Charles Leclerc is third at +0.404s, with Lewis Hamilton fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth.
The upgraded McLarens are yet to make an impression, with Oscar Piastri currently eighth and Lando Norris 12th. Williams are running 15th and 16th, with the session still in its final third.
2:39 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Russell Moves Into the Lead
George Russell has gone quickest in FP1 with a 1:45.387, going 0.400 seconds faster than Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes driver also benefited from a strong tow from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin on the Baku streets.
2:38 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Hadjar’s Session Ends Early
Isack Hadjar’s FP1 session has ended prematurely after he reported a “broken engine” earlier in the session.
His car is now up on the jacks as the team works on the issue.
2:37 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Bottas Summoned by Stewards
Valtteri Bottas has been summoned to the stewards over a yellow-flag infringement during the session.
2:37 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Ferrari Skip Soft Tyres
Ferrari are taking a different approach in FP1, with the team choosing medium tyres instead of softs.
The Ferrari drivers have moved from hard compounds to mediums while most of the field has switched to the soft tyres.
2:25 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Antonelli Reports Hydraulic Issue
Kimi Antonelli has reported a loss of hydraulics shortly after switching to the soft tyres in FP1. Smoke is also being seen from his Mercedes, raising concerns over the car’s issue.
Yellow flags are currently out at the Baku City Circuit, although the reason has not yet been confirmed.
2:22 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Antonelli Leads at One-Third Distance
Kimi Antonelli is currently running P1 at the one-third mark of F1 FP1 in Baku, with Max Verstappen second and George Russell third.
Charles Leclerc is fourth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris is currently eighth, while Fernando Alonso sits 11th.
2:01 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP1 Gets Underway in Baku
The F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 is officially underway at the Baku City Circuit. Liam Lindblad was the first driver out on track, with Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson also among the early runners.
The green light is on as teams begin collecting their first practice data from Baku.
1:50 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP1 About to Begin
The wait is almost over in Baku, with F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1 just minutes away. Teams are preparing to send their cars onto the track for the opening Formula 1 practice session of the weekend.
We’ll bring you the key action from FP1 as it happens, including lap times, incidents and major developments from the Baku City Circuit.
1:44 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Antonelli Leads Drivers’ Championship
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli heads into the Azerbaijan GP as the championship leader with 292 points, followed by teammate George Russell on 211. Lewis Hamilton is third for Ferrari with 191 points, while Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc complete the top five.
Top 10: Antonelli 292, Russell 211, Hamilton 191, Norris 186, Leclerc 167, Verstappen 145, Piastri 120, Hadjar 71, Lawson 59, Gasly 41.
1:35 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Audi Brings 14-Part Upgrade Package
Audi has brought the largest upgrade package of the Azerbaijan GP weekend, with 14 new parts listed in the FIA submission. The changes include updates to the front wing, nose, suspension, engine cover, rear wing and floor as the team looks for more performance in Baku.
1:25 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Kush Maini Tops F2 Practice
Indian driver Kush Maini topped the opening F2 Practice session in Baku for ART Grand Prix, setting a 1:56.532 on his final lap. Alexander Dunne finished second, followed by Nikola Tsolov, Colton Herta and Gabriele Minì.
F1 FP1 is next at 2:00 PM IST, with the session scheduled to run for one hour at the Baku City Circuit.
1:19 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Calendar Update
After the Saturday Azerbaijan GP, the F1 paddock will head to Malaysia for the postponed Bahrain GP at Sepang on October 4. The race weekend will run from October 2–4.
1:00 PM IST — F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: FP1 Set to Begin in Baku
The first Formula 1 practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM IST at the Baku City Circuit.
Teams will use the opening session to evaluate their initial car setups and gather data on the Baku street circuit. With long straights and a narrow section around the Old City, finding the right balance between straight-line speed and cornering performance will be an important part of the weekend.
We will update this F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE blog with confirmed developments from FP1 as they happen.
What to Watch in F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1
The opening practice session will give teams their first extended running opportunity of the weekend. Drivers and engineers are expected to focus on baseline setup work before making further changes for FP2 later in the day.
Baku is particularly demanding because the circuit combines very different characteristics in a single lap. The long straights reward low drag and strong top speed, while the tight Old City section requires precision and confidence close to the walls.
The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be contested over 51 laps, covering a total race distance of 306.049 km.
F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Championship Battle Comes to Baku
The Azerbaijan weekend is the 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and comes with the championship battle entering another important phase.
Mercedes has been strong across the opening part of the season, while Ferrari and McLaren remain among the teams capable of challenging at the front. Baku’s unique layout can also create different performance patterns compared with conventional circuits, making practice data particularly important.
The teams will have only two practice sessions on Thursday before FP3 and qualifying on Friday, so the opening running will be closely watched for signs of pace and setup direction.
F1 Azerbaijan GP LIVE: Follow All FP1 Updates Here
This live blog will track the confirmed action from F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1, including notable incidents, driver running, lap times, track developments and major team updates.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is following an unusual schedule this year, with the race moved to Saturday to accommodate Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27. As a result, FP1 and FP2 are taking place on Thursday, followed by FP3 and qualifying on Friday.
Stay with Auto India Daily for live F1 Azerbaijan GP updates from the Baku City Circuit.
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Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.