F1 RETURNS TO ACTION AS THE 2026 SEASON ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE IN BAKU
Formula 1 returns to action this weekend as the 2026 season enters its final and most important phase. After leaving Europe, the championship now begins a busy period between September and the start of December, with races across Asia and South America before a possible final round in Imola. First, however, the teams head to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be one of the most unusual weekends of the season. The Baku City Circuit is already well known after almost ten years on the Formula 1 calendar, but this time the main difference will be the schedule.
There will be no Sunday race in Baku. The entire weekend has been moved forward by one day to respect Azerbaijan’s national holiday. The first two free practice sessions will take place on Thursday, while Friday will feature Free Practice 3 and qualifying. The race itself will then take place on Saturday.
The unusual schedule could also give the drivers and teams a little more time to recover during this demanding part of the season. With several races coming in quick succession, every extra day can be useful as the championship enters its final stages.
In Baku, the main focus will once again be on Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver has continued to build his lead in the Drivers’ Championship and arrives at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after another strong run of results. At just 20 years old, Antonelli already has eight victories this season and is continuing to move closer to what could become a historic championship.
Behind Antonelli, there are still plenty of questions. George Russell will be looking for a strong response after a difficult period, while Ferrari will also want to bounce back after a disappointing home race at Monza and a Madring weekend that offered less than the team had expected.
Max Verstappen will also be one of the drivers to watch. The Dutchman has enjoyed plenty of attention away from Formula 1 recently, but whenever he has the opportunity on track, he remains capable of producing impressive performances. Lando Norris and McLaren will also be looking to challenge at the front as the championship battle continues.
What does Pirelli bring to Baku & Track map
Pirelli will bring the three softest compounds from its current range to Baku. The C3 will be used as the Hard tyre, the C4 as the Medium and the C5 as the Soft. The tyres will therefore be marked in the usual white, yellow and red colours.
This selection is one step softer than the C4, C5 and C6 combination used at Baku in 2025. The choice is designed to provide more grip on the street circuit, where the cars face a combination of long straights, heavy braking zones and tight corners.
Baku is also known for its relatively low tyre degradation, making the softer compounds an interesting choice for the weekend. Teams will need to find the right balance between performance and tyre management, especially during qualifying and the race.
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