F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Race Preview, Start Time & How to Watch

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set for Sunday, September 21, at 3 PM local time, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen leading the grid from pole position. This follows a highly chaotic qualifying session at the Baku City Circuit, marked by an unprecedented six red flags.

Why it matters:

• The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, known for its unpredictable street circuit, often delivers dramatic races and significant championship shifts. The chaotic qualifying session, featuring multiple red flags and surprising grid positions, sets the stage for a potentially thrilling race with major implications for the driver's and constructor's championships.
• The performance of championship leader Oscar Piastri, starting P9 after a crash, and his rival Lando Norris at P7, will be crucial. Max Verstappen on pole, alongside unexpected front-row contenders like Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson, adds an extra layer of intrigue to how the race dynamics will unfold.

The details:

• Start Time: The Grand Prix begins at 3:00 PM local time (12:00 PM BST, 4:00 AM PST, 7:00 AM ET).
• Qualifying Highlights: Max Verstappen secured pole. Williams' Carlos Sainz will start P2, his best start with the team. Racing Bulls rookie Liam Lawson impressed with P3, and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts P4.
• Championship Contenders: Championship leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start P9 after a significant crash in qualifying, while his teammate and main rival Lando Norris qualified P7. Both will need strong recovery drives to maintain their championship hopes.
• Broadcast Information:
  • UK: Sky Sports F1, Now TV.
  • USA: ESPN Network, fuboTV, F1 TV.
  • Europe: Servus TV / ORF (Austria), RTBF / Play Sports (Belgium), Canal+ (France), Sky (Germany), DAZN (Spain), and others.
  • Americas: RDS / TSN (Canada), ESPN (Latin America).
  • Asia: Shanghai TV / Tencent (China), Fuji TV / DAZN (Japan), beIN SPORTS (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand).
  • Oceania: Fox Sports / Kayo (Australia), Sky (New Zealand).
  • Africa: SuperSport.
• Free Options: Motorsport.com will provide live commentary, and F1's YouTube channel will post free highlights after each session.

The big picture:

• The Azerbaijan Grand Prix's contract has been extended until 2030, cementing its place as a key fixture on the F1 calendar. This reflects the circuit's reputation for delivering exciting and often unpredictable racing.
• Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start P10 and P12, respectively, after a challenging qualifying. Their ability to move through the field will be vital for Ferrari's constructor's championship ambitions.

What's next:

• The race will be a test of strategy, tire management, and driver skill on the challenging Baku street circuit. Given the tight championship battle and the unexpected qualifying results, expect high-stakes action and potentially dramatic overtakes.
• Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris's recovery drives will be a major storyline to follow, as will Max Verstappen's attempt to convert pole position into a victory and close the gap in the driver's standings. The performance of rookie drivers Lawson and Antonelli from the second row will also be keenly watched.