How to watch F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and sprint race: live stream and start times

A four-week break from F1 finally comes to a close, as the series returns to Baku for the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Teams will bring their first major upgrades of the year to the first sprint race weekend of the season, which adds an extra qualifying session, reducing practice to a single session.

It could see a shake-up in the pecking order: while few would bet against Red Bull staying ahead, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Ferrari are locked in a fight to be second-best. Further back, a few tenths of a second can make the difference between heading the midfield or lagging behind.

Add to that the ‘chaos factor’ of Baku’s 3.73 mile track, which can see cars travel at up to 220mph, and has earned a reputation for producing its fair share of drama – and you have a recipe for an unpredictable, exciting weekend of action.

As F1 makes its long awaited return, there’s plenty to play out on the streets of Azerbaijan.

 

How to watch F1: live stream and TV details for 2023 Azerbaijan GP

A change to the sprint race format means that there’s a revised schedule, but every session from Baku can still be streamed live, and will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1. Channel 4 will also show free-to-air highlights of qualifying, the sprint and the race. For viewers in the UK, there’s a three hour time difference to Azerbaijan.

Live TV: All sessions will be shown on Sky Sports F1, starting with Free Practice 1 at 10.30am BST on Friday morning.

Live stream: Sky Sport F1 subscribers can stream all the running live on the Sky Go app. Now TV also carries the Sky Sports F1 channel, and offers weekend passes for individual races.

Highlights: Channel 4 will broadcast qualifying and sprint highlights on Saturday evening, followed by race highlights on Sunday.

 

F1 live stream and TV schedule

All times are BST

	GP qualifying Friday 28 April	Sprint shootout Saturday 29 April	Sprint race Saturday 29 April	Azerbaijan GP Sunday 30 April
Session start time	2pm	9.30am	2.30pm	12.00pm
Live coverage Sky Sports, Sky Go, NowTV	1pm	9am	1.30pm	10.30am
Highlights Channel 4	n/a	n/a	7.50pm (includes qualifying)	5.30pm

 

F1 schedule changes for Azerbaijan GP sprint race

The sprint format has been revised for 2023 in an effort to produce more high-intensity, wheel-t0-wheel battles by introducing an extra qualifying session.

 

 

Who will win?

Given its previous dominant performances, Red Bull remains favourite to take the chequered flag forst in Azerbaijan, but the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez may continue to escalate. The Dutchman is currently at the top of the drivers’ standings, but Perez’s previous form at street circuits – winning in Saudi Arabia, Monaco, Singapore and on F1’s visit to Baku in 2021 – will give him hope.

If anyone can challenge them, it’s most likely to be F1 resurgent stars: Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. On a circuit where top speed and reliability reigns supreme, both Aston Martin and Mercedes have proven to possess the performance to challenge for the top spot on the podium. The Spaniard has finished third in the first three races of the season, whilst the seven-time champion claimed second at a hectic Australian GP.

But, with upgrades, a new sprint format with less practice time and Baku’s unpredictable nature, don’t rule out a surprise result.

 

2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix full session times

	Friday 28 April	Saturday 29 April	Sunday 30 April
F1	Free Practice 1 – 10.30am Grand Prix qualifying – 2pm	Sprint qualifying – 9.30am Sprint race – 2.30pm	Grand Prix – 2pm