City: Baku, Azerbaijan
Circuit: Baku City Circuit
Date: September 24 - 26, 2026
Baku is one of Formula 1's most unpredictable and entertaining venues. The street circuit snakes through the ancient walled city and along the Caspian Sea seafront, combining a 2km flat-out blast along the main straight, one of the longest in Formula 1, with impossibly narrow medieval streets that give the circuit its unique character. Safety cars, late crashes and dramatic twists are almost guaranteed. If you want chaos, Baku delivers.
City Rating: ★★★★☆ Race Experience: ★★★★★
Our Verdict: Go for the Race — Expect the Unexpected
THE CITY
Baku is a genuinely surprising city. The ancient walled Old City which is a UNESCO World Heritage site sits alongside gleaming modern towers and flame-shaped skyscrapers on the Caspian Sea seafront. Azerbaijan has significant oil wealth, which has funded an extraordinary modernisation of the capital while the historic core has been preserved. The juxtaposition of medieval and ultra-modern is visually dramatic. Baku is unlike any other race city on the calendar because it has a distinctly Eurasian character, part European, part Central Asian.
PRACTICAL FOR AFRICAN TRAVELLERS
Late September in Baku is excellent, with temperatures around 22–26°C, sunny and dry. The city is easily walkable along the seafront boulevard. Azerbaijan uses the Manat (AZN). Flights from key cities across Africa connect through Istanbul, Doha, Paris and Frankfurt , all of which have connections to Baku, especially Istanbul. The circuit runs through the city streets, so access is generally straightforward. For Nigerians, presentation of your purchased F1 ticket for the weekend typically lets you get a visa on arrival.
WHAT TO EAT
Azerbaijani cuisine is a genuine discovery for most visitors. Expect rich rice dishes with dried fruit and saffron, grilled meats, dumplings called dushbara, pomegranate everywhere and excellent fresh bread. The food is hearty, flavourful and affordable. Try plov (saffron rice pilaf) and lavangi (stuffed chicken) in particular.
THE RACE EXPERIENCE
Baku is statistically one of the most dramatic races on the calendar. The 2km flat-out blast along the Caspian seafront produces the highest top speeds of any street circuit. The narrow medieval section through the Old City is almost impossibly tight. Safety cars, late punctures, sudden crashes and championship-altering moments happen here with unusual frequency. If you want drama, Baku delivers it almost every year.
THE HONEST WORD
The race is exciting but the Saturday qualifying session is worth treating as a major event in its own right. The lap through the Old City section in qualifying trim is one of the most visually spectacular moments in motorsport. Book grandstand seats along the seafront straight for the best experience.