The 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, set for the Baku City Circuit, will break with tradition by holding the race on Saturday rather than the customary Sunday. According to the schedule released by the event’s official partners, the practice sessions will run on Friday, qualifying on Saturday morning, and the Grand Prix itself will start at 14:00 IST on Saturday, 27 June.
AutohebdoF1 reported the full Saturday‑centric timetable, noting that the change aligns with the broader F1 calendar adjustments for 2026. The shift is primarily driven by the need to avoid a clash with the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on 17 April and will see many Muslim fans observing fasting and prayer throughout the region. Holding the race on Saturday allows the organisers to finish the event before the evening prayers that become more prominent later in the month.
Grande Prêmio added that the Saturday race also helps broadcasters across Europe and Asia to slot the event into a more viewer‑friendly window. By moving the start time to 14:00 IST (09:30 GMT), the race avoids competing with the evening news slots in Europe and the prime‑time viewing window in India, where many fans tune in via FanCode and the official F1 streaming service.
For Indian audiences, the revised schedule means the race will be live at 14:00 IST, a convenient afternoon slot that fits well with work breaks and school holidays. Fans can watch the session live on FanCode, which holds the digital rights for the 2026 season in India, or on the official F1 TV app for those with a subscription. The Saturday format also means a shorter weekend for those travelling to Baku, with only two days of on‑track action before the race day.
While the Saturday race is a departure from the norm, it is not unprecedented; the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was also run on Saturday due to Ramadan considerations. The move demonstrates F1’s flexibility in accommodating cultural and religious calendars while still delivering a full‑weekend spectacle for fans worldwide.
Source: AutohebdoF1
