THE Formula One calendar takes us to Azerbaijan this weekend.
And the Grand Prix is on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday.
AZERBAIJANI GRAND PRIX: LIVE COVERAGE
Why is the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix today?
This unusual schedule change was made following a request from the local promoters and government stakeholders.
The race was moved forward by one day to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day, which is held annually on September 27.
Remembrance Day is a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan that honours military personnel and civilians who lost their lives during the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that began on September 27 2020.
Due to the shift, the entire race weekend has been pushed forward, meaning practice sessions will start on Thursday, September 24, with qualifying taking place on Friday, September 25.
The main 51-lap race will then take place on Saturday, September 26 at 3pm local time, which is 12pm in the UK.
While Saturday races are rare in modern F1, they are not completely new.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has been held on a Saturday night since its return to the calendar in 2023, and the sport has previously held Saturday races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to accommodate Ramadan.
To add further entertainment, the support category has also adjusted its schedule. F2 CEO Bruno Michel said: “As Formula 2 is the only support event at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix, together with the promoters, we have opted for a supersized F2 race weekend.”
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What TV channel is the Azerbaijan GP on and can it be live streamed?
In the UK, Sky Sports F1 remains the exclusive home for live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Subscribers can watch every session live, from the opening practice on Thursday through to the race on Saturday.
Fans who want to stream the action live without a long-term contract can use NOW.
The streaming service offers a Sports Day Membership for £14.99 or a Month Membership for £34.99, both of which provide access to the Sky Sports F1 channel.
Subscribers to Sky Sports can also stream the race live on mobile devices, tablets and laptops using the Sky Go app.
For those looking for free-to-air coverage, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of qualifying and the race.
The highlights are scheduled to air on the evening of Saturday, September 26.
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What is the current F1 leaderboard?
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ championship after a dominant run of form.
Antonelli extended his lead to 81 points after taking his eighth victory of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid last time out.
Here is the current F1 drivers’ championship leaderboard:
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 292 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 211 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 191 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 186 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 167 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 145 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 120 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – 71 points
9. Liam Lawson (RB F1 Team) – 59 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 41 points
11. Arvid Lindblad (RB F1 Team) – 31 points
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 27 points
13. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 18 points
14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – ten points
15. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – seven points
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – six points
17. Alexander Albon (Williams) – five points
18. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – three points
19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – three points
20. Yuki Tsunoda (RB F1 Team) – one point
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – zero points