2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix preview: timings, how to watch, and more

Hot topics ahead of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

For Lando Norris, Monza was a story of him unable to capitalise on opportunities. Firstly, after qualifying on pole he was once again overtaken, here by team-mate Piastri. With a golden chance to score big as Max Verstappen was forced to settle in the mid-field, Piastri continued to be a thorn in Norris’ side, with the British driver ultimately finishing third behind the Australian, with no interfering team orders.

As it stands, Norris sits 62-points behind Max Verstappen, and as the only driver able to mount any real challenge to the leader, the tension in the McLaren camp is certainly rising as friction increases between its drivers. As a team, though, the priority must be taking the constructor’s title. McLaren are now only eight points behind Red Bull. Max Verstappen hasn’t won a grand prix since Spain in June. That was six races ago, and with only eight races remaining, Red Bull’s overall team performance of late, achieving just two podiums for Verstappen, suggests the momentum is with the Woking outfit, if it can get its drivers on the same page, that is. Sergio Pérez won in Baku last year, and now would certainly be the time to replicate such a performance.

Because, Ferrari may be arriving late to potentially make it a three-way constructor’s battle. It might be a long shot, but with the Maranello team now 39-points back from Red Bull, it may be able to keep its rivals honest as the season starts to conclude. Upgrades to the floor in Italy very much paid off, with Leclerc taking the chequered flag and Carlos Sainz Jr. finishing fourth. Baku, and the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix are promising street circuits for Ferrari. Leclerc has taken pole on the last three trips to Baku, and on the back of winning in Monza he is sure to be a threat.

It's been a busy time in Formula 1 since the Italian Grand Prix. The long-awaited news of Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes was revealed to be Formula 2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who got his first taste driving, though subsequently crashing George Russell’s car in FP1. Fellow F2-turned-F1-driver Oliver Bearman will be driving for Haas this weekend, filling in for Kevin Magnussen who has received a race ban for acquiring 12 penalty points on his licence in a year.

For Bearman, he will have another opportunity to get familiar with an F1 set-up, having subbed in for an ill Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix back in March. Now he knows this will be his seat next year, and so has nothing to lose and everything to gain before the pressure really starts to build.

Finally, it was announced that master designer Adrian Newey will be joining Aston Martin, starting work building their 2026 car with that year’s changing of regulations. Aston Martin’s 2024 campaign has been rather lacklustre, but the ambition at play here must be a mouthwatering sight for the rest of the Enstone team and its drivers. Perhaps now Alonso can start eyeing up a third drivers’ championship title…

When can I watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Action at Baku begins on Friday, with Free Practice 1 at 10:30 UK time (13:30 local time), followed by Free Practice 2 at 14:00 (17:00). Saturday starts off with Free Practice 3 at 09:30 (12:30) ahead of qualifying for the grand prix at 13:00 (16:00). Lights out for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is at 12:00 (15:00) on Sunday 15^th September.

How to watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to all live coverage of F1 in the UK. Every session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be shown live and uninterrupted on Sky Sports F1.

US viewers can catch all the action on ESPN, and Australian audiences can watch on Kayo Sports. The F1 TV Pro app also provides coverage of every F1 session across the weekend to several countries the world over.

Which series are supporting in Baku?

Formula 2 will be racing this weekend in Azerbaijan, with the pressure increasing on championship leader Isack Hadjar. Last time out in Monza he came 11^th in the feature race and tenth in the sprint, which was won by Oliver Bearman. In failing to bring home a considerable points haul, the door was open to challenger Gabriel Bortoleto, who capitalised claiming victory in the feature race. Bortoleto now trails Hadjar by only 10.5 points with just three races remaining.

The Formula 3 season concluded in Monza, a round where Tim Tramnitz won the sprint race while the feature race was won by Sami Meguetounif. Leonardo Fornaroli dramatically secured the drivers’ championship after overtaking Christian Mansell on the final corner to finish third. Gabriele Minì’s finished second, but was disqualified for his tyres not reaching minimum pressure requirements. Luke Browning was also handed a penalty in Monza and finished third in the overall standings.  

F1 Academy, meanwhile, returns to action in Singapore next weekend, with Ella Lloyd already announced as the wildcard.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.