Round 17 · Sep 24–26
🇦🇿 Baku · Azerbaijan
Our picks from every hand-mapped Baku grandstand — updated for 2026
Facing the braking zone into Turn 1 at the end of Baku's 2.2km straight — the primary overtaking spot on the calendar's longest braking zone, where cars scrub off well over 300 km/h.
At the narrowest point on the entire F1 calendar, where the circuit squeezes to barely 7.6 metres between the walls of Baku's medieval Old City — an utterly unique vantage point found nowhere else in the sport.
One of the more affordable stands at Baku, facing Turn 20 along the Caspian waterfront with the iconic Maiden Tower visible across the circuit.
Every grandstand position below is hand-mapped from satellite imagery. Tap a stand on the map or in the list for details.
Further along the main straight from Absheron A, with clear sightlines onto the braking zone into Turn 1 — the primary overtaking spot on the lap.
At the narrowest point on the entire Formula 1 calendar — the Turns 11-12 castle section, barely 7.6 metres wide, where cars thread between medieval walls with almost no margin for error.
Facing Turn 20 along the Caspian Sea waterfront, with the iconic Maiden Tower (Qız qalası) visible across the circuit — one of the more affordable stands at Baku, named after the landmark it overlooks.
F1's official premium hospitality suite overlooking the pit lane and start/finish straight of Baku City Circuit, with exclusive access, guided track tours, and fine dining — the most exclusive way to experience Formula 1's fastest street circuit.
Tickets →Mid-straight position along Neftchilar Avenue, watching cars build toward top speed before the biggest braking zone of the F1 season.
Tickets →Closer to Turn 1 itself, for a tighter view of the braking duels that regularly decide track position on the opening laps.
Tickets →The final Absheron section before Turn 1, with a close-up view of the corner where the long straight's speed gets scrubbed off hardest.
Tickets →Positioned closest to the start/finish line on Baku's 2.2km main straight, watching the grid form up and the opening sprint toward Turn 1's heavy 340 km/h braking zone.
Tickets →Facing the Turns 5-6 esses section as the circuit weaves along the seaside approach — a rhythmic, medium-speed sequence that tests car balance after the fast opening sector.
Tickets →Overlooking the same Turns 5-6 esses from the boulevard side, with the Caspian Sea visible beyond the circuit — one of the more scenic mid-lap vantage points at Baku.
Tickets →At the exit of Turn 6, watching cars accelerate toward the historic Old City section — the transition point between Baku's fast seaside sweep and its claustrophobic medieval streets.
Tickets →Facing the sharp left-hander of Turn 7, where the circuit narrows dramatically as it enters the Old City — the start of the tightest, most technical section of the lap.
Tickets →Near Turn 16 by the Philharmonic Garden, catching cars as they exit the Old City section and begin building speed again toward the main straight.
Tickets →Facing the Turn 16 approach with views back toward the city skyline — a good vantage point for watching cars transition from the technical Old City into Baku's high-speed final sector.
Tickets →At the exit of Turn 20, the last corner before the long run onto the main straight — positioned to see the final commitment before cars hit top speed along the Caspian waterfront.
Tickets →At the Turn 17 right-hander onto the seafront, with a fan zone directly behind the stand offering food, drink, and activities alongside the racing.
Tickets →Standing area with circuit access near the inner-city section between Turns 3 and 4 — the most affordable way into Baku City Circuit, with full atmosphere and mobility between viewing points around the zone.
Tickets →Standing area with circuit access near the Old City approach around Turns 6 and 7 — the most affordable way into Baku City Circuit, with full atmosphere and mobility between viewing points around the zone.
Tickets →Standing area with circuit access near the seafront section around Turns 17 and 18 — the most affordable way into Baku City Circuit, with full atmosphere and mobility between viewing points around the zone.
Tickets →Marina Grandstand tickets have already sold out for 2026 through official channels. Azerbaijan is also the only race on the F1 calendar offering a discount for local residents — a reminder of how differently ticket economics work here versus the rest of the calendar.
Standing areas around the circuit; the most affordable way in
Reserved seating packages, often bundled with trackside activities
Champions Club and Paddock Club — Baku is typically the most affordable Paddock Club access on the calendar
The circuit runs directly through central Baku, so most fans stay in the city itself and walk or take a short taxi/metro ride to their gate — no dedicated circuit shuttle system is needed the way it is at suburban tracks. Baku's metro system connects most of the city center to areas near the circuit. On-the-ground costs in Baku, including hotels away from a handful of international chains, are notably affordable compared to most F1 host cities.
Don't miss the Old City section — walk to the Icheri Sheher area at some point over the weekend even if your seat is elsewhere, since watching F1 cars squeeze through a 7.6-metre gap between medieval walls is unlike anything else on the calendar. And expect drama: Baku's combination of a long flat-out straight and tight street corners has produced some of the most incident-heavy, safety-car-prone races in modern F1.
The Baku City Circuit is a street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. At 6.003 km long with 20 corners, the lap is run 51 times on race day. The circuit first appeared on the Formula 1 calendar in 2016. Baku City Circuit has hosted the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017 (and the sport's debut visit as the European Grand Prix in 2016), threading Formula 1 through the streets of Azerbaijan's capital on the Caspian Sea. At 6.003 km, it's one of the longest circuits on the calendar, combining a 2.2 km flat-out straight with the narrowest, most claustrophobic street section in F1 — a 7.6-metre-wide squeeze past the medieval Old City walls. The combination of high speed and tight margins makes Baku one of the most unpredictable, incident-prone races on the calendar. 2026 marks the tenth edition of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the race confirmed on the F1 calendar through at least 2030.
Turn 1 — Turn 1: 90° right-hander, heavy braking from 340 km/h on main straight
Turn 3 — Turn 3: 90° right onto inner city streets
Turn 5 — Turn 5: Left-hander through the esses
Turn 7 — Turn 7: Sharp left towards the Old City
Turn 9 — Turn 9: Tight left into the narrow castle section
Turn 12 — Turn 12: Right exit of castle section, tightest point on the calendar
Turn 14 — Turn 14: Right-hander, cresting the hill
Turn 16 — Turn 16: Left-hander near Philharmonic Park
Turn 18 — Turn 18: Left kink along the Caspian Sea waterfront
Turn 20 — Turn 20: Final left-hander onto the 2.2 km DRS main straight
September 24-26, 2026, at Baku City Circuit — the tenth edition of the race, which is confirmed on the F1 calendar through at least 2030.
Absheron B is our overall pick — it faces the braking zone into Turn 1 at the end of Baku's 2.2km straight, the primary overtaking spot on the calendar's longest braking zone. Icheri Sheher is the best pick for atmosphere at the narrowest point on the F1 calendar, and Giz Galasi is the strongest budget option.
General admission runs roughly $140-410 for the weekend; grandstand packages start from about $899; VIP and Paddock Club hospitality ranges from around $3,779 up to $6,499 — Baku is typically the most affordable Paddock Club access on the F1 calendar.
6.003 km with 20 corners, run over 51 laps — one of the longest circuits on the calendar. The lap record is 1:43.009, set by Charles Leclerc in 2019.
The circuit narrows to just 7.6 metres wide as it winds past the medieval walls of Baku's Old City (Icheri Sheher) — the narrowest point anywhere on the Formula 1 calendar.