Formula 1 is embarking on nine rounds in 11 weeks – in theory. Here are the six talking points for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Don’t forget to remember
Formula One Management has shifted the entire race weekend forward 24 hours in order to accommodate Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday. Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father in charge of the country over two decades ago, inaugurated the day in 2020.The day marks the beginning of that year’s war in the Nagorno-Karabak, the region where Azerbaijan subsequently expelled around 100,000 ethnic Armenians. Has F1 adjusted its calendar for the benefit of a repressive regime which is using it for ‘sportswashing’? Perhaps the subject was discussed when F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali met in 2024 with Aliyev and “Formula 1 consultant Flavio Briatore”, as the president’s office curiously described the Alpine executive at the time.
Antonelli’s to lose
Antonelli now leads his increasingly struggling team mate George Russell by 81 points, Lewis Hamilton by 101 and Norris – the only driver who’s looked like a regular threat to the champion-elect over the last four rounds – by 106. Realistically, unless one of Antonelli’s pursuers can pull off a Max Verstappen-2025 style resurgence, this is all over bar the shouting.
The 2026 season has turned into the kind of title fight which will have Domenicali gazing covetously at NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup and musing that his vision of F1 is at least one more gimmick away from perfection. Until that happens, the remaining races will be a case of whether Antonelli might fumble his big change. Baku is exactly the kind of track which can punish a driver – remember what happened to Oscar Piastri last year – but Antonelli has shown few signs of committing such errors so far.
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Virtually unfair
Norris’s turn of misfortune prompted criticism of F1’s Virtual Safety Car rules. The timing of the VSC period allowed every driver bar the race leader the chance to make a pit stop with minimal time loss.
Should F1 tweak its rules to avoid a repeat? Such a change would probably only make a difference to a very small number of cases, but that could be taken as an argument for or against it.
Williams’ long-awaited upgrade
The Grove squad will bring a significant upgrade for Sainz and Alexander Albon’s cars this weekend. But team principal James Vowles says it will not transform their difficult season.
“We’re going to be bringing two new chassis to the event in a bid to get our car mass below the [minimum weight] limit,” he said in a video released by the team. “So that should be a strong step of performance for us. In addition to that, we’ll have some aerodynamic upgrades that go with it.
“There is a ‘however’: the field has moved on so significantly, and these upgrades, whilst powerful, simply won’t be what we are looking for in order to consistently score points.”
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F1’s ‘treble triple’ begins – or does it?
This weekend’s round will be the first of three consecutive events. It kicks off a run of nine rounds in the space of just 11 weeks which will bring the 2026 season to an end.
Or will it? FOM is yet to confirm whether its planned final two events in the Middle East will go ahead, despite rising hostilities in the region. F1 has announced next season will begin with the two rounds it had to scratch this season, but it remains to be seen whether the current championship will conclude as planned.
Three-pointed stars
Mercedes have again proved the masters of a new set of power unit regulations. They haven’t been beaten to pole position all year and Antonelli scored the 12th grand prix victory for their power units in Spain.
With that, Mercedes engines have won as many grands prix in F1 history as Ferrari, one of the sport’s greatest names. Mercedes will surely topple their rivals before the season is over, and will quite likely do so this weekend – unless Charles Leclerc can conjure up more of his Baku magic.
Are you going to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
If you’re heading to Azerbaijan for this weekend’s race, we want to hear from you:
Who do you think will be the team to beat in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Have your say below.
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