Your trackside guide to Baku City Circuit & the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024. On-track schedule, trackside attractions & post-race concerts.
- The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place from September 13-15
- Tickets are now on sale.
- We also recommend F1 Experiences Ticket Packages
- Join our private Facebook group for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Connect with fellow fans & get advice
- This post contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links
After an uneventful first year – when it was known as the European Grand Prix – Baku has delivered several exciting races. The organizers have also improved the fan experience year on year after some initial teething problems, and the fan experience in Baku is now excellent. With very few international visitors for the race, you definitely won’t be facing the traffic chaos, queues and other issues faced by many fans at some of the largest races this year.
Taking a leaf out of Singapore and Abu Dhabi, Baku also puts on some big-name concerts. For several years, these were held in the Crystal Hall, where Azerbaijan hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. Since the pandemic, the concerts have moved to a temporary stage in the Fanzone on the beachfront boulevard next to the circuit. In 2023, Dutch DJs Don Diablo (Friday) and Hardwell (Saturday) performed.
Baku hosted Formula 1’s sprint format in 2023, but the format will not return for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Entry to Baku City Circuit
- Circuit Entry: You will be able to enter the circuit after scanning your e-ticket. You will receive a wristband, which will be required for re-entry on the same day.
- Circuit Map: See above. Click here for an alternative map.
- Access Gates: Six gates provide access to Baku City Circuit (see map above). Most of the grandstands and off-track activities are located on the southern side of the circuit, closest to the waterfront boulevard (or Bulvar). To get around the circuit, there’s plenty of underpasses and bridges to help you cross the track. Due to road closures, it can also be quicker to use the metro to get from one part of the track to another. For example, the quickest way to get from the old town to the Fanzone is to take the Metro one stop from Icheri Sheher to Sahil.
- Security / Prohibited Items: Fans are subject to a search and bag inspection when entering the circuit. Here is a select list of prohibited items at Baku City Circuit: alcohol, beverage containers (except for one clear plastic bottle of water: no more than 100 ml in size), food (excluding baby food), photo cameras with lenses exceeding 30 cm, any seating devices (chairs, stools), flags with handles exceeding 1m or with offensive texts/symbols/images, picnic hampers. Click here for more information.
Baku City Circuit: Need to Know
- Post-Race Track Invasion: After the race on Sunday, it is normally possible to enter the track for the podium ceremony (the so-called ‘track invasion). Track gates are opened in the F1 Fanzone (Purple Zone) near the Absheron Grandstand.
- Fanzones: The entertainment areas at Baku City Circuit are divided into several zones. The main F1 Fanzone (Purple Zone) is located behind the Absheron Grandstand on the start/finish straight, close to the seafront boulevard known as the ‘Bulvar’. There is no physical separation between the zones, so it’s possible to visit all of them. Learn more on the circuit website.
- Event Guide: Download a comprehensive event guide and map for the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Schedule
- On-Track Schedule: The full timetable of on-track action has been confirmed by Formula 1 and is listed below.
- Sprint Race: Baku is NOT one of the six circuits to host F1’s sprint race format in 2024
- Support Categories: Formula 2 is the only support category at the 2024 Azerbaijan GP
- Fanzone Opening/Closing Times: To be confirmed for 2024. In 2023, the Fanzone was open from 10:00-23:00 on Friday and Saturday, and opened 10:00-20:00 on Sunday. The Fanzone is also expected to be open on Thursday, September 12 (see below)
- Pit Lane Walk: A pit lane walk for holders of 4-day tickets will be held on Thursday, September 12 from 16:30-18:00. F1 Experiences also holds a separate pit lane walk for selected guests on Thursday. Guests of the F1 Paddock Club can take part in daily pit lane walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of race weekend.
Friday, September 13
- 11:00-11:45: Formula 2 – Practice Session
- 12:00-13:00: Paddock Club – Track Tour & Pit Lane Walk
- 13:30-14:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 1 (FP1)
- 15:00-15:30: Formula 2 – Qualifying Session
- 15:40-16:35: Paddock Club – Track Tour & Pit Lane Walk
- 17:00-18:00: Formula 1 – Free Practice 2 (FP2)
Saturday, September 14
- 11:15-12:15: Paddock Club – Track Tour & Pit Lane Walk
- 12:30-13:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 3 (FP3)
- 14:15-15:05: Formula 2 – Sprint Race (21 laps or 45 minutes + 1 lap)
- 16:00-17:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying
- 17:15-18:15: Paddock Club – Track Tour & Pit Lane Walk
Sunday, September 15
- 11:35-12:40: Formula 2 – Feature Race (29 laps or 60 minutes + 1 lap)
- 12:55-13:55: Paddock Club – Track Tour & Pit Lane Walk
- 13:00-13:30: Formula 1 – Drivers’ Parade
- 14:44-14:46: National Anthem
- 15:00-17:00: Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 (51 laps or 2 hours)
2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Pit Lane Walk
- A pit lane walk for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on held on Thursday, September 12 from 16:30-18:00
- The pit lane walk is open to all 4-day ticket holders (holders of 3-day General Admission tickets cannot participate)
- The pit lane walk is a unique opportunity to walk down the pit lane and get a glimpse of the teams at work, as they make the final preparations to the cars ahead of the race weekend. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a driver or two!
- The F1 Fanzone is also expected to be open on Thursday (last year from 10:00-23:00)
F1 Driver Autograph Sessions in Baku
- Autograph sessions are TBC for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- As one of the lowest-attended races on the calendar, F1 driver autograph sessions are still held at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- The sessions take place on Friday and Saturday morning (around 10:30-12:30) on the stage in the Fanzone behind the Absheron (Main) Grandstand, with each team’s drivers signing for around 15 minutes.
- As the drivers do not around too long, we recommend getting there early if you want a selfie or autograph from your favourite driver.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Concerts
As part of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Will Smith will perform on Friday, September 13 and J Balvin will perform on Saturday September 14. South African DJ and music producer Black Coffee will also perform on Friday, September 13.
The concerts normally start around 9-10pm. All 4-day grandstand ticket holders have free access to the concerts. (Holders of 3-day General Admission tickets do not receive free concert entry).
After holding concerts on a temporary stage in the fan zone for the past few years (DJs Don Diabo & Hardwell performed last year), this year’s concerts return to Baku Crystal Hall, the impressive concert venue along the Bulvar (seafront boulevard) that staged the 2012 Eurovision song contest. Whilst it is possible to walk from Baku City Circuit to Baku Crystal Hall (about one hour on foot), the race organizer has previously offered shuttle transfers to F1 fans. TBC for 2024.
We attended the Baku Grand Prix last year.
Event was excellent. Well organized and combined race events with a surrounding of culture and history.
Good to know Ron, any tips for fans planning to go this year or next? I’d love to go myself, maybe next year! Andrew
Find facebook groups where you can stand on local’s balconies rather than bother with the grandstands IMO.
Six access gates provide circuit access for fans (see map). no map !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Brian – there is a link to the map in the paragraph you have quoted!
Hi,
Love your website!
I’ve been checking it regularly in anticipation for ticket release details!
Hopefully there will be some news soon!
Sam
Yes, we are expecting tickets to go on sale very soon. Please subscribe to our site – and check the box for Azerbaijan – we will let you know when tickets go on sale.
When will be known at what time the pit lane walk will be this year??
I don’t know, but should be in the next few weeks. We will update this post.
Concerts Saturday and Sunday?
As of now, we have concerts confirmed for Friday (Don Diablo) and Saturday (Hardwell). I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that another headliner will be performing on Sunday after the race, but not yet announced. More info here
How much are beer prices around the track ?
Sorry I’m not 100% sure. I normally take a photo of the price list for beer/food at the track, but I can’t find for Baku last year. Baku is pretty cheap overall, so I think the beer prices will be reasonable
Andrew, the pitlane walk on the Thursday is only open to 4 day ticket holders, not 3 like last year. This has been confirmed by the organisers. It is also later at 4.30pm.
https://www.bakucitycircuit.com/schedule
Thanks for clarification Clarke, even though its a bit late now. Did you attend? I’m here too and the pit lane walk looked very busy yesterday
Can you buy beer at the track?
Yes, you can. Sorry, not sure about prices, but should be fairly cheap
Your article helped me a lot!!! Thank you.
Thanks, hope you have a great weekend in Baku!
Hi Andrew,
I assume F1 driver autograph session was on the official schedule until a few months before the event, but this has been replaced by the each fan forum this year?
Does that mean that the guarantee of getting an autograph from my favorite driver is away from this year?
Hiroto
Hi Hiroto, are you talking about Baku or at another race? The Fan Forum or autograph session is something that’s organized by the circuit. The problem is that most races now have way too many fans to do an autograph session. Baku it is still there, but the attendance is quite low there. Most races will have the drivers appear on the stage for the fans, but without autograph session
what are the fan events planned for F! 2024 in Baku?