2026 Formula 1 · Round 15
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026: what channel is it on, start time and how to stream
Dash Marchetti · Race weekend desk
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Baku pairs a 2.2 km flat-out straight with a medieval castle section barely wider than a car, and the combination reliably produces chaos.
The Azerbaijan GP has finished. Replays are on F1 TV Pro, and on Apple TV in the US.
What channel is the Azerbaijan GP on?
It depends where you are. In the United States every session is on Apple TV — the rights moved from ESPN ahead of the 2026 season, so it is no longer on cable. In the United Kingdom it is Sky Sports F1, with free highlights on Channel 4. Canada has TSN and RDS; Australia has Fox Sports and Kayo.
| Where you are | Live TV | Streaming | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Apple TV (exclusive — every practice, qualifying, sprint and race) | Apple TV app on smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, consoles, iOS, Android, or tv.apple.com in any browser | Apple TV free trial for new subscribers; practice sessions stream free in the Apple TV app |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 (every session live) | Sky Go, NOW Sports Membership, Virgin Media | Channel 4 shows extended highlights of every race, plus the British Grand Prix live in full |
| Canada | TSN (English) and RDS (French) | TSN+, RDS Direct, F1 TV Pro | No free live option |
| Australia | Fox Sports and Kayo Sports (every session live) | Kayo Sports on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast and smart TVs | Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free-to-air under anti-siphoning rules |
| Ireland | Sky Sports F1 | Sky Go, NOW | Channel 4 highlights are available in most of Ireland |
| Most other countries | A local rights holder in each market — check your listings | F1 TV Pro streams every session live in 180+ countries (not available in the UK; in the US it is bundled with Apple TV as F1 TV Premium) | No free live option |
Listings checked Sunday, August 30, 2026. Broadcast rights change between seasons and vary by region — confirm with your provider before the session starts.
What time does the Azerbaijan GP start?
Lights out is 11:00 AM UTC on Saturday, September 26, 2026 — that is 11:00 AM UTC where you are. Broadcasters start their build-up show roughly half an hour earlier.
| City | Race starts |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Sat, Sep 26 · 4:00 AM |
| New York | Sat, Sep 26 · 7:00 AM |
| São Paulo | Sat, Sep 26 · 8:00 AM |
| London | Sat, Sep 26 · 12:00 PM |
| Paris, Berlin, Rome | Sat, Sep 26 · 1:00 PM |
| Dubai | Sat, Sep 26 · 3:00 PM |
| New Delhi | Sat, Sep 26 · 4:30 PM |
| Singapore | Sat, Sep 26 · 7:00 PM |
| Tokyo | Sat, Sep 26 · 8:00 PM |
| Sydney | Sat, Sep 26 · 9:00 PM |
How to stream the Azerbaijan GP live
No cable needed anywhere. US viewers use the Apple TV app, which runs on smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, consoles, phones and any web browser — and includes F1 TV Premium at no extra cost. UK viewers can stream Sky Sports F1 through a NOW Sports Membership with no contract. In Canada, TSN+ is sold standalone. Elsewhere, F1 TV Pro streams every session live in more than 180 countries.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule
Every session in UTC and converted to your own timezone. Standard format: three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, the Grand Prix on Sunday.
| Session | Date | Start (UTC) | Your time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Thu, Sep 24 | 8:30 AM | 8:30 AM UTC | Finished |
| Practice 2 | Thu, Sep 24 | 12:00 PM | 12:00 PM UTC | Finished |
| Practice 3 | Fri, Sep 25 | 8:30 AM | 8:30 AM UTC | Finished |
| Qualifying | Fri, Sep 25 | 12:00 PM | 12:00 PM UTC | Finished |
| Race | Sat, Sep 26 | 11:00 AM | 11:00 AM UTC | Finished |
Can you watch the Azerbaijan GP free?
- US — practice streams free in the Apple TV app, and a new-subscriber free trial covers a full race weekend.
- UK — Channel 4 airs extended highlights of every race free-to-air, and the British Grand Prix live in full.
- Australia — Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free-to-air.
- Anywhere — official highlights land on Formula 1’s YouTube channel a few hours after each session.
Unofficial streams are unreliable, usually illegal and a common malware vector. Everything listed here is a licensed broadcaster.
What to watch for at Baku City Circuit
The straight is the longest full-throttle stretch of the year and makes DRS overtaking almost too easy, which is why cars run more wing than the straight suggests. The narrow run through the old town leaves no margin at all, and the safety car appears here more than at almost any other circuit. Races at Baku are rarely settled until the final laps.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is round 15 of the 2026 championship, run on a 6 km street circuit through Baku, combining a 2.2 km straight with a castle section narrow enough to touch both walls. The race distance is 51 laps, roughly 306 km.
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Azerbaijan GP: quick answers
- What channel is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on?
- In the United States, Apple TV (exclusive — every practice, qualifying, sprint and race). In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 (every session live). In Canada it is TSN and RDS, in Australia Fox Sports and Kayo, and in most other countries F1 TV Pro carries every session live alongside the local broadcaster.
- What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
- Lights out is 11:00 AM UTC on Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Sat, Sep 26 · 7:00 AM in New York, Sat, Sep 26 · 12:00 PM in London and Sat, Sep 26 · 9:00 PM in Sydney.
- Can I watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for free?
- In the US, practice streams free in the Apple TV app and new subscribers get a free trial. In the UK, Channel 4 shows extended race highlights free-to-air. In Australia, Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free. Official highlights go up on Formula 1's YouTube channel after every session.
- How many laps is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
- The race is scheduled for 51 laps of Baku City Circuit, about 306 km in total.
Next races
- How to watch the Brazilian Grand Prix — Sunday, November 8, 2026