Mercedes F1 Head to Baku for 2026 Azerbaijan GP as Triple-Header Begins

Baku, Azerbaijan, September 23, 2026: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team heads to Baku for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the opening round of a demanding triple-header that will form part of the final stretch of the Formula 1 season.

The team arrives in Azerbaijan after two encouraging race weekends, but Mercedes remains cautious about its position in the highly competitive 2026 field. Recent results have delivered strong points, although the team acknowledges that circumstances during the races also played a role.

With several teams capable of fighting at the front on any given weekend, Mercedes believes the Baku City Circuit will provide another stern test of its car and drivers.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is one of the most distinctive events on the F1 calendar, combining long straights and heavy braking zones with the extremely tight and unforgiving streets of Baku’s Old City.

Mercedes wary of Baku challenge

Mercedes says its recent results have been encouraging but will not change its assessment of the competitive picture.

The team is now entering the first of three triple-headers scheduled to close out the 2026 season. With limited recovery time between races, preparation, reliability and operational execution will become increasingly important for teams competing for championship points.

Mercedes believes the upcoming period could have a significant impact on its championship position.

“Baku is one of the most unusual circuits on the calendar. It asks a lot from the car and the drivers,” the team said. “You need good straight-line speed, confidence in the braking zones and a car that can handle the low-speed corners through the old city.”

The team also stressed that recent form provides no guarantee of performance in Azerbaijan.

“Baku will expose any weakness very quickly. We have to approach the weekend with humility, do the basics well, and earn every point.”

Baku demands precision and commitment

Mercedes’ third driver Fred Vesti highlighted the unique challenge presented by the Baku City Circuit.

The long straights make energy management particularly important, while the circuit also provides several opportunities for overtaking. Drivers must use the available track width aggressively while maintaining confidence close to the barriers.

According to Vesti, the tight corners through Sector 2 are among the most demanding sections of the lap, with the barriers positioned extremely close to the racing line.

“To be quick here, you need to use every centimetre of the circuit and commit to getting close to the walls,” Vesti explained.

The rewards can be significant, particularly during qualifying, where carrying additional speed through the technical middle sector can make a major difference to lap time.

However, the margins are extremely small. A minor error can result in contact with the barriers, damage to the car and the loss of valuable track time.

Despite the risks, Vesti considers Baku one of the highlights of the F1 season, pointing to its combination of a challenging street circuit layout, overtaking opportunities and close racing.

Baku celebrates 10th anniversary

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the 10th anniversary of Formula 1 racing in Baku.

F1 first visited the city in 2016, when the event was staged as the European Grand Prix. It has been known as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017.

The Baku City Circuit is 6.003 km long, making it the fourth-longest circuit on the 2026 F1 calendar. One of its defining features is the approximately 2.2 km start-finish straight, which can create a significant slipstream advantage for cars following closely behind.

That effect is particularly important during race restarts, with the leader potentially vulnerable to a car receiving a strong tow before the braking zone for Turn 1.

The circuit’s name is also linked to Baku’s reputation as the “wind city”, with the city’s name deriving from Persian terms associated with wind.

Mercedes’ Baku record

Mercedes has enjoyed considerable success in Azerbaijan since the race joined the Formula 1 calendar.

The team has recorded three victories in Baku with three different drivers: Nico Rosberg won the inaugural 2016 European Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton took victory in 2018, and Valtteri Bottas won in 2019.

The team’s current drivers have also enjoyed success at the venue in junior categories. George Russell won the F2 Sprint race in Baku in 2018, while Fred Vesti claimed his maiden F2 victory at the circuit in the 2022 Sprint race.

Kimi Antonelli also has a Baku podium to his name, having finished third in the F2 Feature Race in 2024.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held in the first half of the season during its early years before moving to September from 2024 onwards. Baku also hosted an F1 Sprint weekend in 2023, the only time the event has used the Sprint format so far.

As Mercedes begins the final sequence of triple-headers in 2026, the team will be looking to translate its recent momentum into another strong points haul while navigating one of the most demanding street circuits on the calendar.