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Kimi Antonelli heads to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with two straight wins and the lead of the Drivers’ Championship. Baku gives him a different kind of test. Its long flat-out run rewards straight-line speed, while the narrow streets around the castle leave little room for a driver who asks too much of the car.
Round 15 also arrives at an awkward moment for several teams. Williams has a major update to assess, Red Bull is waiting on Isack Hadjar’s fitness, and the 2027 driver market has gone quiet just as decisions are becoming harder to postpone.
Can Antonelli keep Mercedes ahead?
Mercedes established an early advantage in 2026, but its rivals have made the fight closer as the season has progressed. Antonelli’s victories at Monza and Madrid show that the team remains capable of winning even without the same development pace as some of its competitors.
Baku should expose where that advantage now stands. Teams need enough downforce to give drivers confidence through the old town, yet carrying too much drag leaves them vulnerable on the long run towards Turn 1. A strong qualifying lap matters on a street circuit, but so does a car that can defend or attack when the field reaches the straight.
McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull will all be looking for a way into the fight. For Antonelli, the question is whether Mercedes can give him the balance to manage both halves of a very different lap.
Williams’ Baku upgrade faces its first serious examination
Williams has pointed to Azerbaijan as the destination for an upgrade package planned months in advance. The timing gives the team little room to hide: it arrives ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, six points behind Audi and ten behind Haas.
Points would be welcome, but the more useful answer may come from how the FW48 behaves. Does the new package make the car more competitive across both Baku’s slow corners and its long straight? Does it give the drivers a platform they can use consistently over a stint? One result can be shaped by traffic or a safety car. A clear improvement in pace would say more about Williams’ direction for the remaining races.
Will Hadjar be ready to return for Red Bull?
Isack Hadjar has missed three Grands Prix since injuring his wrist during the summer break. Liam Lawson has driven for Red Bull in his absence, while Yuki Tsunoda has raced for Racing Bulls.
The gap between Madrid and Baku has given Hadjar more recovery time, but Red Bull has said it will only bring him back when he is fully fit. That decision carries extra weight with a busy run of races beginning in Azerbaijan. A return would settle one immediate question about Red Bull’s lineup; until the team confirms it, Hadjar’s availability remains one of the week’s key unknowns.
Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?
The weekend runs a day earlier than usual to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27. Formula 1 practice takes place on Thursday, September 24, qualifying on Friday, September 25, and the Grand Prix on Saturday, September 26.
The shift does not change what makes Baku difficult. Drivers must thread the tight castle section without touching the barriers, then carry speed onto a straight where a slipstream can transform an attack into a pass at Turn 1. The contrast can keep positions in play long after the opening laps.
The 2027 driver market is waiting for its next move
Max Verstappen’s contract extension and Williams’ decision to retain its drivers brought clarity to parts of the 2027 grid. Elsewhere, the picture remains open. Haas has yet to confirm its lineup, despite evaluating several drivers, and Fernando Alonso has not announced his plans for next season.
There may be no announcement in Baku. Still, as the remaining races begin to come quickly, teams have fewer weekends left to judge their options. On-track performances could do more to move the market than another week of speculation.
Baku City Circuit Stats
- First Grand Prix: 2016
- Number of Laps: 51
- Corners: 20
- Circuit Length (km): 6.003
- Race Distance (km): 306.049
- Lap Record: 1:43.009 – Charles Leclerc (2019, Ferrari)
- Track Record: 1:40.203 - Charles Leclerc (2023, Ferrari)
- Safety Car Probability: 67%*
- Virtual Safety Car Probability: 50%*
- Pit stop time loss: 19.27 seconds (including 2.5s stop)
- Pole run to Turn 1 braking point: 111 meters (shortest on the calendar)
- Most pole positions: Charles Leclerc (4)
- Most wins: Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (2)
- Overtakes completed in 2025: 55
- Trivia: At its narrowest point (the Turn 8/9 ‘Old Town’ complex), the circuit is just 7.6 metres wide
*From the previous 6 races in Azerbaijan
2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix FAQ
When is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
The race is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at the Baku City Circuit. Practice begins on Thursday, September 24, and qualifying takes place on Friday, September 25.
Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a Saturday?
The schedule has been moved forward by one day to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27.
Is Isack Hadjar racing in Baku?
At the start of race week, Red Bull has not confirmed his return. Hadjar has missed three races with a wrist injury, and the team says he will race again only when fully recovered.
What should fans watch for in Baku?
Antonelli’s pace against Mercedes’ rivals, the effect of Williams’ upgrade, and Red Bull’s driver decision are the leading questions before practice. Baku’s mix of narrow corners and a long straight will also put car setup under scrutiny.