The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is on a Saturday this year, and on the West Coast the lights go out at 4 a.m. Belgian TV covers all five Baku sessions in French, and its RTBF Auvio streaming site shows them without a subscription. US viewers can join in with a free login and a VPN set to Belgium. Baku is round 15 and the first of three races on consecutive weekends.
Stream F1 Azerbaijan GP With NordVPN
Azerbaijan GP Times in PT and ET
Azerbaijan marks Remembrance Day on September 27, so the whole weekend moved forward: practice on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and the race on Saturday. Baku is 11 hours ahead of Pacific time and 8 ahead of Eastern.
| Session | Date | PT | ET | Baku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Thursday, Sep 24 | 1:30 a.m. | 4:30 a.m. | 12:30 |
| Practice 2 | Thursday, Sep 24 | 5 a.m. | 8 a.m. | 16:00 |
| Practice 3 | Friday, Sep 25 | 1:30 a.m. | 4:30 a.m. | 12:30 |
| Qualifying | Friday, Sep 25 | 5 a.m. | 8 a.m. | 16:00 |
| Race, 51 laps | Saturday, Sep 26 | 4 a.m. | 7 a.m. | 15:00 |
Stream the Baku Race Free on RTBF Auvio
- Get a NordVPN subscription, then download the app on the phone, laptop, or TV where you’ll follow the race.
- Choose Belgium in the NordVPN app. The connection takes a few seconds, and the default settings are fine.
- Set up your RTBF Auvio profile with an email and password or through Google. If the form shows a postal code field, enter a Belgian code from an online ZIP code generator.
- Click the live session in RTBF Auvio’s Formule 1 category.
RTBF’s commentary is in French, but the on-screen timing and team radio captions are in English.
What to Watch For in Baku
The Baku City Circuit is a 6.003 km street track hosting a 51-lap race. Most overtaking happens at the end of the long straight along the Caspian seafront, into Turn 1. After that, the track narrows sharply through the old town, past the medieval city walls. The walls line the edge of the track, so small mistakes end races.
Oscar Piastri crashed out in Baku last year while leading the championship. Max Verstappen won that race, and he and Sergio Pérez are the only drivers with two or more Baku wins. Madrid went to Kimi Antonelli, who now leads the championship by 81 points.
Lando Norris started that race from pole and missed out on the win. The forecast is dry and sunny for the whole weekend.
Picking a VPN for RTBF Auvio
The season finishes in Abu Dhabi in December. The VPN you choose now covers the remaining races, and new subscribers can claim a refund within 30 days.
- NordVPN costs $3.49 a month on its two-year plan and has native apps for Apple TV and Fire TV, so the race can go on the big screen.
- Proton VPN costs $2.99 a month and includes Belgium on its paid plan, while the free version leaves it out.
- ExpressVPN is $2.99 a month too, and it connects in about 2 seconds with no settings to change.
Apple TV Has the Paid US Rights
Apple TV is the paid option in the US. Every Baku session is part of the subscription, with F1 TV Premium included, for $14.99 a month once the seven-day free trial ends. Apple TV bundled with Peacock costs from $17.99. Like Apple TV, Sky Sports F1 in the UK checks your location, so subscribers traveling abroad have to connect a VPN to their home country.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Streaming FAQ
When does the Azerbaijan GP start in the US?
Saturday at 4 a.m. PT, or 7 a.m. ET. The race starts at 3 p.m. in Baku, and qualifying is the day before at 5 a.m. PT.
Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on a Saturday?
Sunday is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. The national day of mourning falls on the usual race day, so F1 moved practice, qualifying, and the race forward by one day.
Is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Apple TV?
Yes, and no other US service shows F1 this season. The subscription covers practice, qualifying, and the race, and new subscribers pay nothing for their first week.
How long does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last?
About 90 minutes to two hours. The race covers 51 laps of the Baku City Circuit, and Safety Car periods on the narrow street track can extend it.
