Everything You Need to Know About Attending the 2025 Azerbaijan GP

Everything you need to know ahead of attending the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit

• The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place at Baku City Circuit on September 19-21
• This post contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links

Formula 1 first headed to the oil-rich country of Azerbaijan in 2016 and, despite a nondescript first race, the event has become a fan favourite in recent seasons thanks to some chaotic Sunday afternoon races. The track has seen seven different winners from the eight races held so far at Baku City Circuit. The only multiple winner of the race is Sergio Perez. In 2024, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix moved to a new September slot on the calendar, paired back-to-back with the Singapore Grand Prix one week later. September dates are retained for next year’s race in Baku (September 19-21).

Heading to Azerbaijan for the first time? All the essential travel information you need is in Travel Basics.

Race Tickets Not Yet On Sale, F1 Experiences Packages Now Available

Tickets don’t normally go on sale for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix until the new year. This year, early buyers were rewarded with up to 20% off ticket prices when buying via the Baku City Circuit app soon after sales were launched. Entry to both the pit lane walk on Thursday and the concerts at Crystal Hall on Friday and Saturday are free to buyers of 4-day grandstand tickets.

Ticket packages from F1 Experiences, Formula 1’s official ticket partner, are now on sale for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. These packages offer a choice of either grandstand seats or premium hospitality in the Formula 1 Paddock Club, plus exciting insider activities at the track such as an Exclusive Pit Lane Walk, Guided Track Tours, and F1 driver appearances. 3-day access to the Formula 1 Paddock Club costs $5,250 USD at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This is expected to be the cheapest price you’ll pay for entry to this exclusive hospitality suite across the entire 2025 F1 season.

How to Get to Baku

Baku is not the best connected city for international fans flying in for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Direct flights from Europe are sparse, though Azerbaijan Airlines does fly direct from an increasing number of European capitals. Budget carrier Wizz Air flies from Budapest and Rome, Lufthansa flies from Frankfurt and Poland’s LOT also offers direct flights from Warsaw. Alternatively, you can make a stopover in Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or fly via one of the hubs in the Middle East with Qatar Airways, FlyDubai or WizzAir. More information about getting to Baku, as well as navigating the city with taxis and public transport can be found in this post: How to Get to Baku – 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Where to Stay

Given that Baku City Circuit is located in the historic and administrative center of the city, it makes sense to try and find accommodation within walking distance. Be aware though, that road closures in central parts of the city can make getting around trickier on race weekend. If money is no object, the best places to stay for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix are the Hilton Baku and the JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel, which are located at either end of the start/finish straight and pits/paddock area. Other good, but pricey options, near the track include the Radisson Hotel Baku, Hyatt Regency Baku and Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard

The old city also has some nice hotels at more affordable prices. We recommend exercising caution when considering apartment rentals that claim to offer trackside views, as some foreign visitors have been scammed. Several local hotels do have trackside views, and these are a safer bet. If you are on a limited budget, don’t discount staying further away from the centre, provided you have easy access to the city’s efficient metro system. Learn More: Where to Stay in Baku for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Attendances Growing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Organisers of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix have not announced official attendance figures since 2019, when 85,000 attended Baku City Circuit over the three days of the race weekend. The biggest known attendance figure for the event came in 2018, when there was a weekend attendance of 94,000.

Although no figure was announced in 2024, it was revealed that the latest edition of the race had a record attendance, with all grandstands sold out and an increase in international ticket sales. Along with the Bahrain Grand Prix – which also has attendances under 100,000 – the Baku event has generally been the least attended of any race on the calendar since joining the schedule in 2016. That can actually work out as a perk of attending the race, as there are therefore fewer queues and less overcrowding in Baku than at better-attended races.

How Much Will I Spend on a Trip to the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

We estimate that the average fan will spend $1,050 USD on a trip to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including accommodation, grandstand tickets and daily spending money. Though attending the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is cheap for international fans, the event is much more expensive for local residents, though discounted tickets are available for Azerbaijanis.

In 2019, international visitors accounted for almost a quarter of all ticket sales at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – a percentage which has risen in more recent years. Average ticket prices at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix worked out at $417 – the 14th cheapest of the 24 races on this year’s calendar – down five places compared to last year. Ticket prices for the Baku race rose by about 10% from 2023 to 2024. For a full breakdown on what you can expect to spend, read this post: How Much Does it Cost to Attend the 2025 Azerbaijan GP?

Check Out Everything Baku Has to Offer

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend presents the perfect opportunity to check out all that the historic city has to offer. Baku is bursting with culture, and with both ancient and modern sectors, there’s plenty to take in all around the local area. Baku’s old city and nearby Fountain Square (home to many restaurants and nightlife) is a must visit, as is the impressive Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center (pictured above). Take the funicular up to the hill near the Flame Towers, which offers spectacular views of the city. At the track itself, head to the Blue Fan Zone to learn more about Azeri history and culture. Learn more here: The Best Things to Do in Baku – 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

On Track Action, Fan Zone, Pit Lane Walk & Fan Forum

Unlike most other European races, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix does not benefit from a packed support bill. Formula 2 – already confirmed to race at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – is normally the only other on-track action at Baku City Circuit on race weekend. F2 normally holds a sprint race on on Saturday morning and the Feature Race ahead of the Grand Prix on Sunday. Formula 1 will not use the Sprint format at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The fan zones will be a hive of activity over the weekend, with family friendly activities, E-Sports simulators, merchandise stalls and pit stop challenges. The main fan zone is located behind the Main (Absheron) grandstand on the main straight. A pit lane walk for 4-day ticket holders normally kicks off the weekend on Thursday afternoon, and the fan zone is also open on this day. The F1 drivers also make an appearance for a Q&A on the stage in the fan zone as part of a Fan Forum, which takes place on Friday and Saturday (the drivers of selected teams appear on either Friday or Saturday). Session times, entry info, prohibited items, fan zone activities, pit lane walk info and more can be found in here: Trackside at Baku City Circuit – 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Concerts

After several years of smaller concerts on a temporary stage in the fan zone, Baku’s race weekend concerts returned to Crystal Hall in 2024 with performances from Will Smith on Friday night and J Balvin on Saturday night. Holders of 4-day grandstand tickets for the race get free admission to the concerts. Separate tickets were also available. Headliners have not yet been announced for 2025.