Formula 1: Updated F1 Azerbaijan GP 2023 timings

The sprint format for the latest edition in Baku has been changed.

Can Red Bull repeat their 2022 1-2 finish? Or will Azerbaijan GP 2023 spring up with surprises?

The 2023 Formula 1 (F1) season comes to the Baku circuit in Azerbaijan GP after a four-week break in the calendar. F1 has revised the format of this weekend with sprint format replacing the qualifying but it’s a little different than last year.

Last season, what determined the grid for the sprint race was qualifying and the result of that Sprint race was used to set the grid lineup for Sunday's race. For this year, the rules have changed a little. Two qualifying sessions will take place in this weekend’s schedule, one qualifying will take place on Friday which will determine the Sunday’s grid for the main race.

While the second qualifying session which will be much shorter will take place on Saturday and set the grid for the sprint race. This second shorter version of qualifying will be known as “Sprint Shootout.” The Sprint race and the Sprint Shootout, do not impact the final race and its grid setting. Even though the Sprint race carries points for the drivers and constructors, Saturday will be more of a standalone day. 

Max Verstappen and RedBull are coming to Baku as the leaders in both Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship. For the last two years, Red Bull has been winning in Baku with Perez winning in 2021 and Verstappen winning in 2022.

Aston Martin has started their season with a bang and with a little more improvement they can even challenge Red Bull. The lacking Mercedes and Ferrari have to improve a lot in terms of speed and reliability if they want to challenge Red Bull in Azerbaijan GP 2023.

Baku is known to spring up surprises and is always exciting for the fans to watch. With the new weekend format being used it will be exciting for the fans to see how the teams will cope with the new format.

Azerbaijan GP 2023 Timings IST and GMT

• Free Practice 1: Friday (April 28) | 3 PM IST | 9:30 AM GMT
• Qualifying: Friday (April 28) | 6:30 PM IST | 1 PM GMT
• Sprint Shootout: Saturday (April 29) | 2 PM IST | 8:30 AM GMT
• Sprint Race: Saturday (April 29) | 7 PM IST | 1:30 PM GMT
• Race: Sunday (April 30) | 4:30 PM IST | 11 AM GMT