Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off in Baku

The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts today in Baku with two free practice sessions scheduled for the opening day.

Formula 2 will also hold a practice session and a qualifying round. The Baku circuit covers 20 turns and 51 laps over a total distance of 306.049 km. The first race in the capital was staged in 2016 as the European Grand Prix, with subsequent events held as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Past winners include Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. In 2024, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took victory.

This season Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 324 points. His McLaren teammate Lando Norris is second on 293, followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on 230. McLaren leads the constructors’ standings with 617 points, ahead of Ferrari on 280 and Mercedes on 260.

Day one schedule: 10:00 Formula 2 free practice, 12:30 Formula 1 first free practice, 14:30 Formula 2 qualifying, 17:00 Formula 1 second free practice.