Wednesday 23 September 2026 14:39, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Craig Slater breaks down the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including why the race takes place on a Saturday, while doing his best Craig David impression! Hamilton and Ferrari’s hopes of winning this years world title have faded in recent races, with the Briton not finishing on the podium since the British Grand Prix at the start of July. A first race retirement of the season last time out in Madrid saw third-placed Hamilton fall over 100 points back on championship-leading Kimi Antonelli for the first time this season, with the seven-time champion all-but conceding the title. Azerbaijan GP schedule: Why is the race on Saturday?F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky?
Latest Sky Sports deals or stream F1 with no contract 📺Antonelli’s overall lead at the top of the standings is 81 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell.Asked about his own championship prospects heading into weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the season’s 15th of a scheduled 23 rounds, Hamilton said: “I mean, he’s 101 points ahead of me. “Just in two races he gained something like 40-odd points on me, and we’ve been working so hard to gain just a couple of points here and there. “There is still a long way to go and I think the focus for me is, if we can hold on to second – if not somehow catch Mercedes – for the constructors’ I think that would be remarkable. More from Azerbaijan Gp 2026 Isack Hadjar confirmed as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate for 2027 Formula 1 season ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur sets goal for Azerbaijan GP as Nico Rosberg pinpoints team’s ‘Achilles’ heel’ F1 title race: Why Azerbaijan-Malaysia-Singapore triple header will shape what rest of 2026 championship chase will look like Azerbaijan GP 2026: Saturday race, dates, schedule, Baku weather, UK start time and how to watch or stream F1 live on Sky Sports Isack Hadjar: Red Bull driver to return to action at Azerbaijan GP after missing three races with wrist injury Azerbaijan GP: McLaren predict four-way battle for victory with rivals in Baku after confirming more upgrades to MCL40 “I think it’s also just having to think about where we were last year and where we’ve come to this year and whilst it sometimes seems doom and gloom, you actually have to look at the positives.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Kimi Antonelli says the team has all eyes on its long-awaited upgrade package arriving in Malaysia Ferrari endured a winless 2025 campaign and slipped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, with Hamilton himself experiencing a difficult first campaign in red with no podiums for the first time in his career.But he won for the first time at June’s Spanish Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc triumphing two races later at Silverstone.Hamilton added: “We’ve been fighting, we’ve had wins and podiums, the team have done an incredible job in terms of bringing upgrades, so you really have to acknowledge the good things that we’ve done this year.”I know lots of people focus on the negatives.
For me, again, if I can battle with George and somehow get ahead of him, which will be very difficult as Mercedes are the leaders.”If at the end of the year, managing to stay in the top three, even second, I think would be a huge achievement for us as a team.”Hamilton is 20 points behind Russell, his former Mercedes team-mate, in the standings.’I believe we can make improvements’Ferrari have consistently looked competitive early on in race weekends but the team’s recent results have often been compromised by issues within their own control.”I think there’s positives to take out of the last few races, it’s just they haven’t been, I would say, the best in terms of execution and we’ve not had the best results,” said Hamilton.”But the positives we take forwards and we try and learn from the areas we weren’t as good. I believe we can make improvements and I think we have.”I’m excited for this weekend.”Sky Sports F1’s Azerbaijan GP live schedule Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place around the Baku City Circuit Thursday September 246.55am: F2 Practice9am: Azerbaijan GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)*10.55am: F2 Qualifying*12pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference12.30pm: Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)2.15pm: The F1 ShowFriday September 255.10am: F2 Sprint*9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session starts at 9.30am)*11.10am: F2 Feature Race 1*12.30pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up*1PM: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*3pm: Ted’s Qualifying NotebookSaturday September 267.55am: F2 Feature Race 210.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*12PM: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction*3pm: Ted’s Notebook**also live on Sky Sports Main EventRacing on a Saturday! The 2026 Formula 1 season continues live on Sky Sports F1 this week as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header of races, with the Baku race taking place on Saturday at midday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
