No rain, no heat, but Baku weekend has another weather factor to watch

While temperatures are not expected to pose the same challenge as the scorching conditions seen in Monza and Madrid, and the current risk of rain remains very low, the wind could prove to be a factor that teams cannot afford to overlook. The current-generation cars can be particularly sensitive to gusty conditions, potentially making the wind an important variable throughout the weekend.

According to The Weather Channel, Thursday in Baku is expected to be partly cloudy and warm, with temperatures reaching around 30°C during the day. The chance of rain is currently just 8%, while winds are forecast to blow from the south-southeast at around 17 km/h. Temperatures should drop to around 22°C overnight, with winds strengthening significantly and potentially reaching up to 50 km/h.

Friday is expected to be cooler and considerably windier in Baku, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching around 25°C. The chance of rain remains very low at 6%, but strong northerly winds of 40 to 55 km/h could be a major factor throughout the day. Overnight, temperatures are forecast to fall to around 20°C, with winds continuing from the north-northwest at up to 50 km/h.

Saturday, race day, is expected to bring mostly sunny conditions, with only a few passing clouds and temperatures reaching around 27°C. The chance of rain is just 5%, while northeasterly winds are forecast at around 15 to 30 km/h. Overnight, temperatures should fall to around 20°C, with lighter northerly winds and only a 3% chance of rain.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will break from the traditional Formula 1 weekend format this year, with the race taking place on Saturday instead of Sunday. It will be the only round of the 2026 season to feature such a schedule, making the Baku event slightly different from the rest of the calendar.

The weekend will begin with the first two practice sessions on Thursday, September 24, giving teams and drivers their first opportunity to fine-tune their cars around the challenging Baku City Circuit. Friday will then bring FP3 and qualifying, meaning the starting grid will be decided just one day before the Grand Prix itself.

All eyes will then turn to Saturday, September 26, when the Azerbaijan Grand Prix gets underway at 15:00 local time. The unusual timetable follows a request from the Azerbaijani government and the race promoter, who agreed to move the entire event forward by one day.