Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix & sprint race: Start time, TV, streaming, grid, schedule for 2023 race
The 2023 Formula One season resumes after a three-week break with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
The weekend will also feature the first sprint race of the year. The sprint is a shorter race that, for the first time, will have no implications on Sunday's grand prix. There are six sprint races scheduled in the 2023 season.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen has taken the lead in the drivers standings three races in, scoring two race victories and a second place finish. His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Pérez, has been on the podium with him twice, including winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The surprise of the season so far has been the performance of veteran Fernando Alonso, who switched teams in the offseason to join Aston Martin. The two-time champion also been on the podium for all three races so far.
American driver Logan Sargeant continues his F1 journey in his first season.
Here is all the information you need to get ready for Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix:
When is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku?
The first and only practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will start at 5:30 a.m. ET on Friday. Qualifying will take place at 9 a.m. ET.
On Saturday, the sprint shootout, which serves as qualifying for the sprint, will start at 4:30 a.m. ET. The sprint race in Baku will start at 9:30 am ET.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will start at 7 a.m. ET on Sunday.
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What TV channel are the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, sprint race, qualifying and practice on?
All of the weekend action from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will air on television on ESPN and its family of stations.
Friday's practice session will air on television on ESPN2 with qualifying being shown on ESPNU.
Baku's sprint shootout will air on ESPN2 on Saturday while the sprint race will be shown on ESPN.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will air on television on ESPN.
Where will the Azerbaijan Grand Prix be live streamed on?
All of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix events will be live streamed on ESPN+.
Who won the sprint race in Baku?
Sergio Pérez won the sprint race in Baku on Saturday. The Red Bull driver started from P2 and passed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc midway through the 17-lap affair to take the lead. He maintained it for the victory, finishing 4.5 seconds ahead of Leclerc.
On lap two, AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda lost his right rear tire by hitting the wall. There was a virtual safety car and then the actual safety car was deployed through lap six while debris was cleared from the track. Tsunoda pitted to get a new tire and the team sent him out with his car still visibly damaged. He retired shortly after.
Pérez' teammate, Max Verstappen, was passed by Mercedes' George Russell on the first lap and he was upset because he thought he wasn't given enough room in the corner on Turn 2. Verstappen, who had a hole in the sidepod of his car from the incident, took back the position later in the race and finished third.
American driver Logan Sargeant did not participate in the sprint after crashing in the sprint shootout, which served as qualifying for the race. He will start P15 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday.
What is the format of the sprint race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
The first sprint race of the 2023 F1 season will be at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The past two seasons, the sprint has been used as qualifying for Sunday's race. In Baku, the sprint will be a completely separate competition.
Traditional qualifying will be held Friday instead of Saturday with only one practice session instead of three.
Saturday will only feature sprint action, including the first ever sprint shootout to qualify for the sprint and then the sprint race itself. The sprint will consist of 17 laps and last around a half hour.
The winner of the sprint gets eight points toward the drivers and constructors championship. Each subsequent driver gets one less point, leading down to one point for the eighth place finisher.
Who holds the lap record at the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc holds the lap record at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He secured a time of 1:43:009 at the race in 2019.
Who won the F1 race in Baku last year?
Last year, Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix followed by Sergio Pérez. George Russell finished third in his first season with Mercedes.
What is the starting grid for the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
The starting grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was determined on Friday after qualifying. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc takes his third pole position in Baku after tying Red Bull's Max Verstappen midway through Q3 and then surging ahead.
"The car was good, really good," Leclerc said on team radio after landing P1. "It's good to be back on top."
American driver Logan Sargeant will start Sunday's race at P15 for Williams. This was the rookie's first time reaching Q2.
Here is the starting grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday:
- (16) Charles Leclerc
- (1) Max Verstappen
- (11) Sergio Pérez
- (55) Carlos Sainz
- (44) Lewis Hamilton
- (14) Fernando Alonso
- (4) Lando Norris
- (22) Yuki Tsunoda
- (18) Lance Stroll
- (81) Oscar Piastri
- (63) George Russell
- (31) Esteban Ocon
- (23) Alex Albon
- (77) Valtteri Bottas
- (2) Logan Sargeant
- (24) Zhou Guanyu
- (27) Nico Hulkenberg
- (20) Kevin Magnussen
- (10) Pierre Gasly
- (21) Nyck DeVries