Azerbaijan Grand Prix: when can I tune in for the action?

Set the scene for me.

Oh boy, where to start? The F1 world is still processing the news that design legend Adrian Newey will be joining Aston Martin next year.

Hiring the most successful F1 brain ever (seriously, his career achievements over almost 40 years will blow your mind) is a real statement of intent for Aston, albeit a costly one at a reported £30m per year. Worth it if they start winning though, right?

In the here and now, the title battle is ramping up with every race: Red Bull seems all at sea with its car, and that’s allowed Lando Norris to close the gap to 62 points with eight races to go. Doable?

McLaren certainly think so, because it’s decided that - having let its drivers race freely thus far - it will now deploy team orders and ask Oscar Piastri to move aside, if and when it helps Lando in his bid to reel in Max Verstappen. That could be a game-changer.

It’s still a long shot though. Ferrari sensationally won at Monza last time out, Mercedes is still in the mix at the front and Red Bull could be one update away from fixing the RB20. There’s still a long way to go.

Further back, keep an eye out for youngster Oliver Bearman, on supersub duties again this weekend. Only this time it’s for Haas - the team he will join full-time in 2025 - and not Ferrari. Kevin Magnussen picked up more penalty points for the US team last time out in Monza, and so he is banned for Baku. Ouch.

What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?

Screenshots at the ready: the Azerbaijan GP begins at 12pm (midday) UK time on Sunday 15 September. Qualifying is on Saturday, starting at 1pm BST.

Keen on the practice sessions too? F1 nerds, we salute you. FP1 starts at 10.30am today (or started, depending on when you’re reading this) and FP2 begins at 2pm. The final shakedown that is FP3 starts at 9.30am on Saturday morning before qualifying.

Is it going to rain?

Not likely. The current forecast suggests that the weather in Baku will be very dry and very warm, with no sign of showers. Yet. Who knows how reliable meteorologists are really.

Gimme some history in 100 words or fewer.

F1 only started visiting the streets of Baku in 2017, but its race-to-absolute-classic-grand-prix ratio is off the charts. Who could forget the carnage when Daniel Ricciardo won from tenth on the grid in the maiden running of the race? That was the day Seb Vettel got road rage and rammed his Ferrari into Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes behind the safety car. Or how about Sergio Perez winning in ‘21 when Hamilton overshot the first corner on a last-lap restart? Perez, by the way, is the only repeat winner in Azerbaijan, having also triumphed here last season. Three-peat, Checo?

The top three will be…

Hmm. Well, Monza is long and straight… and Baku’s circuit is long and straight. And doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, right? So let’s leave it to science and say that Norris, Piastri and Leclerc will fight it out for the podium spots again.

Shock of the weekend?

Adrian Newey will be paraded through the paddock atop a gold horse, flanked by a fleet of classic Astons as Lawrence Stroll declares ‘HOW YA LIKE ME NOW?’ with his arms outstretched in glorious celebration.

Where can I watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

All the usual places: UK fans can either watch the race on Sky Sports’ dedicated F1 channel… or subscribe to NowTV in order to stream Sky Sports’ dedicated F1 channel. Anyhow, if you’d rather just wait for the highlights then Channel 4 is what you need: the race recap will be broadcast from 4.30pm on Sunday, while the quali round-up will be shown on Saturday at 7.30pm. All times UK, of course.

If you can’t stay away from civilisation long enough mind, there’s always the radio: BBC Radio 5 Live will have commentary on the race as the action unfolds.