Exact Start Time for 2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP in Baku

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku forms round 17, running September 19–21. Sunday’s race starts 12:00 BST, with championships finely poised and McLaren eyeing a decisive constructors’ outcome.

Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ standings by 31 points over Lando Norris after Monza. McLaren heads the constructors’ table and can clinch the title with a strong scoring swing.

Friday opens with FP1 at 09:30 BST and FP2 at 13:00. Saturday’s FP3 starts 09:30, before qualifying at 13:00 sets the grid.

Set-up hinges on straight-line speed versus stability through the castle section. The Baku City Circuit rewards low drag, but braking confidence into Turn 1 and slow-corner traction remain decisive.

Safety cars are frequent, stretching strategy windows. Teams balance softer compounds’ grip against degradation on long stints, while cooler breezes or rain could widen the tactical spread.

Behind McLaren, Ferrari holds second in the constructors’. Mercedes and Red Bull trail closely. Max Verstappen sits third in the drivers’, applying pressure despite McLaren’s sustained momentum.

Baku follows the Italian Grand Prix and precedes Singapore, demanding rapid adaptation from low-drag efficiency to street-circuit discipline. That switch challenges simulation accuracy and pitwall responsiveness.

Qualifying matters, but race pace decides outcomes. Expect tow management in Q, brake-cooling vigilance, and careful energy deployment. Track evolution amplifies risk for early laps on cold tyres.

McLaren’s intra-team balance is pivotal. Piastri holds the advantage, but Norris has speed and street-circuit confidence. Risk tolerance through the castle section could tilt Sunday’s narrative.

Baku’s unpredictability often reshapes championships. Expect aggressive undercuts and opportunistic restarts. For longer-term context, see developments around Max Verstappen and Red Bull in 2026.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.