Formula 1 has shifted the upcoming Baku street race to a Saturday main event to avoid clashing with the host nation’s national Remembrance Day.
The 51-lap fixture will commence at 1500 local time on 26 September. The timeline modification was enacted “following a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and relevant government stakeholders” via motorsport.com to observe the annual day of mourning on Sunday. Track action begins on Thursday with two practice sessions, before final practice and qualifying take place on Friday.
The revised Friday grid shootout presents an immediate test for the Scuderia. The squad is eager to resolve Ferrari’s Saturday qualifying deficit following the costly fallout from Ferrari’s Madrid strategy gamble earlier this month.
Formula 2 Supersized Weekend Format
Serving as the exclusive support category on the Baku City Circuit, Formula 2 has adopted a radically expanded timetable. The feeder series will contest two standalone 20-minute qualifying sessions on Thursday afternoon. Friday’s schedule includes a sprint alongside the initial feature contest, leading into a final feature event on Saturday morning.
Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 2 CEO, explained to RacingNews365 that “As Formula 2 is the only Support Event at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix, together with the promoters, we have opted for a supersized F2 race weekend, with one Free Practice, two Qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races.”
Michel confirmed the final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will revert to standard formats. However, Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali noted potential replacement venues remain “not defined.”
