Formula 1: How to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on TV and what to know

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Here’s a guide that tells you what you need to know about the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It’s the 17th of 24 rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

How to watch the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on TV

— In the U.S., on ESPN.

— Other countries are listed here.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule

Friday: First and second practice.

Saturday: Third practice and qualifying.

Sunday: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 51 laps of the 6-kilometer (3.73-mile) Baku City Circuit. It starts at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET / 1100 GMT).

Azerbaijan Grand Prix venue

The first street circuit in seven races is a unique mix of a high-speed seafront straight and twisty, narrow roads around the old town of Baku. Cars speed past the medieval city walls, which F1 fans fondly call the “castle.” Since its debut in 2017, Baku has gained a reputation for dramatic races with late twists, like Max Verstappen colliding with his then-teammate Daniel Ricciardo in 2018, or a crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr. on the next-to-last lap last year. Oscar Piastri won in Azerbaijan in 2024. No driver has yet won the event two years in a row.

Qualifying

A thrilling and memorable qualifying session saw crashes, rain and a record six red flags before ending with Max Verstappen on pole position. The Red Bull driver somehow found enough grip on dry tires in the rain to beat a time set earlier in much better conditions by Carlos Sainz, Jr. Liam Lawson was a career-best third. Title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will have to fight their way through the pack. Norris qualified seventh after tapping the wall, while Piastri had a rare mistake this season as he crashed and is set to start ninth.

Last time out

Verstappen had his first win since May at the Italian Grand Prix amid controversy over McLaren’s treatment of title contenders Lando Norris and Piastri. Norris lost second place to Piastri because of a slow pit stop but McLaren ordered Piastri to give the place back. The team argued it wanted to keep the title race as fair as possible. Piastri leads Norris by 31 points in the standings with eight rounds of the championship to go. His lead would have been 37 points if he’d kept second place.

Catch up on F1

— Max Verstappen on pole and Oscar Piastri crashes in chaotic F1 qualifying in Azerbaijan

— McLaren heads into Azerbaijan GP on verge of F1 constructors’ title

— Kimi Antonelli takes extra ‘fuel’ to Azerbaijan GP after Toto Wolff criticism

— Max Verstappen claims dominant victory at Italian Grand Prix for 1st win since May

— How new rules will shake up Formula 1 in 2026, and what could still change

— Max Verstappen makes Nürburgring debut in endurance racing

— Formula 1 extends Azerbaijan Grand Prix contract through 2030

Key stats

7 — McLaren can wrap up the constructors’ title Sunday with seven races to go. A 1-2 finish for Norris and Piastri would give McLaren an unassailable lead over Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

155.791 — The average speed in miles per hour (250.7 kph) of Verstappen’s win at Monza set a new F1 record.

5 — It’s the sixth of eight races on street circuits this season, and Norris has so far outscored Piastri on street circuits by 86 points to 81. The most recent street race — in Canada — was the only F1 GP in 2025 with neither McLaren driver on the podium.

What they’re saying

“I was pushing a little bit too hard and, unfortunately, paid the price… There are still plenty of opportunities to maximize the pace I know we have.” — Oscar Piastri.

“Of course, you want to have a good start. But even then, we just need to do our own race, look after our tires, because it’s still quite tough on the tires around here because of the softer compounds. And then, we’ll see what happens.” — Max Verstappen.

“Honestly, I can’t even remember what happened. It was so busy.” — Liam Lawson struggles to recall what happened on the way to his best-ever qualifying result.

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