Category: Azer News

Baku is preparing to host Formula 1 for the tenth time. Over the years, the Baku City Circuit has become a setting for records, surprise victories and dramatic finales, earning a reputation as one of the most unpredictable venues on the championship calendar. In 2026, there is another layer to the intrigue: championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives in Baku with an 81-point advantage over his nearest rival.

The landmark race weekend will follow a revised schedule. Formula 1 action will get under way on Thursday, September 24, with qualifying on Friday and the main race on Saturday, September 26.

Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Baku circuit first welcomed Formula 1 in 2016. That year, the event was held as the European Grand Prix before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 2017 onwards. The only interruption came in 2020, when the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To understand the character of the Baku circuit, it is enough to look at a single lap. The lap is 6.003 kilometres long, while drivers complete 51 laps during the race, covering just over 306 kilometres in total. The 20-corner circuit runs anti-clockwise.

One of its most recognisable sections runs alongside the walls of Icherisheher. At Turn 8, the track narrows to around 7.6 metres, leaving drivers virtually no room for error. Another distinctive feature comes right at the start: there are just 141 metres between pole position and the braking zone for Turn 1.

The Baku circuit also presents teams with a difficult compromise when it comes to car set-up. The narrow, slow sections around Icherisheher are followed by long, high-speed stretches, while the proximity of the walls raises the cost of any mistake.

Just how high the speeds can be in Baku was demonstrated by Valtteri Bottas in 2016. Driving for Williams, the Finnish driver reached around 378 km/h, a figure that remains among the highest speeds recorded by a Formula 1 car during a race weekend.

But the reputation of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is not built on the circuit layout alone. From the early years of the event, Baku has regularly provided moments that have influenced not only individual race results, but sometimes the wider championship picture too.

The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was named the best race of the season. Fans still remember the clash between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton behind the Safety Car. The race featured 42 overtakes in total, while Daniel Ricciardo took victory after starting from only 10th on the grid.

A year later, Red Bull team mates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen found themselves at the centre of the action after colliding following a prolonged battle. Later in the race, race leader Valtteri Bottas hit debris and suffered a puncture, losing what had looked like a near-certain victory.

The 2021 race produced another dramatic finish. After Verstappen crashed, the race was stopped by red flags. At the restart, his main rival Hamilton made a mistake that ultimately left him without points.

In 2024, the battle for victory once again went almost all the way to the finish. Oscar Piastri held off Charles Leclerc after a tense fight to take the win, while Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz collided on the penultimate lap, bringing both their races to an early end.

Baku underlined its reputation again in 2025. Qualifying was interrupted by red flags six times, setting a Formula 1 record. The session lasted 1 hour and 58 minutes, ultimately running longer than the Baku race itself had the previous year.

These moments have become part of the history of the Baku circuit. Even starting from pole does not guarantee a straightforward race here. The long straight gives rivals opportunities to attack, while a Safety Car appearance can completely change the teams’ strategies.

Sergio Perez won in Baku in 2021 and 2023, becoming the first driver to claim two Azerbaijan Grand Prix victories. Max Verstappen then matched that record with wins in 2022 and 2025. As the tenth race approaches, both drivers have two victories to their name in Baku.

Charles Leclerc has his own special connection with the circuit. The Ferrari driver secured pole position in Baku for four consecutive years, from 2021 to 2024. Verstappen ended that run in 2025, but Leclerc remains the record-holder for the most poles at the Baku round. He also holds the lap record, a 1:43.009 set in 2019. Yet none of his four poles has so far resulted in victory. His record is another reminder of just how unpredictable a race in Baku can be.

In 2026, the spotlight will fall on a different driver. Kimi Antonelli arrives in Baku as championship leader after winning the previous round in Madrid. The Italian has won eight of the first 14 races of the season and, with nine rounds remaining, holds an 81-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Baku is by no means an unfamiliar circuit for Antonelli. In 2025, the Italian qualified fourth and finished the race in the same position. This time, he returns to Azerbaijan as the championship leader.

There will also be plenty of attention on drivers who have already tasted success in Baku. Verstappen will be looking to become the first three-time winner of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Leclerc will once again be chasing pole and hoping to finally turn a front-row start into victory at the Baku City Circuit.

The landmark weekend will also feature an unusual Formula 2 format. With F2 the only support series for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, its programme has been expanded for the Baku round. Thursday will feature Free Practice followed by two qualifying sessions, while Friday will bring the Sprint and the first Feature Race. The second Feature Race will take place on Saturday. This format will be used only in Baku, before Formula 2 returns to its usual schedule.

The tenth race marks another significant milestone in Formula 1’s history in Azerbaijan. In a decade, the event has gone from its debut as the 2016 European Grand Prix to becoming a permanent fixture on the championship calendar.

Across the previous nine races, Baku has repeatedly shown how quickly the balance of power can change. Narrow streets, long straights, walls close to the racing line and very little room for error keep the tension alive until the final laps. Now, the tenth race at the Baku City Circuit is ready to add another chapter to that story.

Azerbaijan and France discussed bilateral and multilateral relations, the Azerbaijan-EU cooperation agenda and the regional situation during a meeting on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The meeting was held between Azerbaijan’s representative and Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The Azerbaijani side stressed the importance of constructive engagement, referring to guidance provided during high-level exchanges between the two countries’ Heads of State over the past year.

The discussions also covered Azerbaijan’s efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the region.

The Azerbaijani side said the meeting addressed issues related to bilateral and multilateral relations, Azerbaijan-EU cooperation and regional developments.

China announced that it will continue allowing Iranian airlines to operate flights to the country.

The United States has threatened to exclude airports that continue to serve Iranian airlines from the dollar-based financial system.

Despite this, Iranian Airlines continue to operate international flights. According to Flightradar24, at least six flights departed Iran for destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Shanghai and Kabul after the restrictions came into force.

Foreign companies providing services to Iranian airlines, including refueling and ground handling, risk being cut off from the US financial system under measures taking effect on Wednesday.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies providing services to Iranian aircraft could face consequences. Speaking to CNBC, he said that companies could not provide fuel or landing services to Iranian aircraft or sell tickets for their flights without risking exclusion from the dollar system.

The latest restrictions are part of Washington’s broader efforts to increase economic pressure on Iran amid the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Bessent said the US was considering airlines, the maritime sector and digital assets as potential targets for further measures.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa outlined his government’s foreign policy priorities, security negotiations and regional economic plans during an Atlantic Council Front Page event in New York on Tuesday, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Addressing the status of the Golan Heights, al-Sharaa said Syria maintains its legal claim to the territory under international law.

‘The Golan is Syrian land according to United Nations resolutions, and there is no room for discussion regarding its status,’ al-Sharaa said during the forum.

Israeli withdrawal and US mediation

On border security and regional tensions, al-Sharaa said Syria may require an international commission to assess security concerns along the frontier and distinguish between what he described as genuine security needs and perceived threats.

He said any formal security framework must be preceded by an Israeli withdrawal to positions held under the 1974 disengagement arrangements.

‘We demand that Israel withdraw to the areas it occupied under the 1974 arrangements before discussing security arrangements,’ al-Sharaa said. ‘If the security arrangements succeed, it will be possible to move on to discussing a permanent peace.’

Al-Sharaa described the current geopolitical environment as a ‘historic moment that could achieve benefits for all parties,’ while confirming that Washington is involved in facilitating negotiations between Syria and Israel.

He acknowledged, however, that progress in the talks remains difficult.

Turning to regional economic relations, al-Sharaa highlighted efforts to restore Syria’s role as a transit hub for trade and energy flows in the Middle East.

He said the Syrian government is working to establish a secure transit corridor across Syrian territory for Iraqi goods, with a particular focus on transporting Iraqi oil to Mediterranean ports.

Al-Sharaa also reaffirmed Damascus’s commitment to supporting stability in neighboring Lebanon, saying Syria seeks to assist the Lebanese government and enable state institutions to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

On domestic governance, the Syrian president rejected proposals for power-sharing arrangements based on sectarian, ethnic or regional quotas.

‘We do not want a quota system based on ethnic, geographic, or religious lines that would lead to the division of Syria,’ al-Sharaa said, arguing that such political arrangements could undermine the country’s territorial integrity.

Excitement is building in Baku as the 10th anniversary race of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches. A range of activities have been organized for fans from the first days of the race weekend. One of them is the traditional Pit Lane Walk, which gives fans an opportunity to get closer to the world of Formula 1.

Fans walked along the pit lane, passed in front of the teams’ garages and watched closely as the cars were prepared for the race. The garages of Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes and other teams were among the most popular stops for fans. Getting a close look at the cars, meeting the drivers and taking photos with them were among the highlights of the walk.

Meanwhile, life in the pit lane continued as usual. The sound of engines, the work of the mechanics and preparations inside the garages made it clear that only a few hours remained before the race. From just a few metres away, fans were able to follow these activities and see another side of Formula 1 beyond the track.

Fans left the Pit Lane Walk with memorable impressions after an atmosphere filled with excitement. Attention now turns to the main action at the Baku City Circuit.

Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, said changing people’s everyday habits could become an important part of the global effort to address the climate crisis.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of New York Climate Week, she stressed that environmental problems are linked not only to industry and the use of fossil fuels, but also to the modern culture of excessive consumption.

‘The Zero Waste movement has freed people from the role of helpless observers in the face of the climate crisis and turned them into key participants in finding solutions,’ Emine Erdogan said.

According to her, even small changes in people’s behavior, when widely adopted, can develop into a social culture and, with the support of effective government policies, evolve into a sustainable system.

Emine Erdogan recalled that Turkiye’s Zero Waste program was launched in 2017. The initiative was initially implemented at the Presidential Complex before expanding to schools, hospitals, municipalities, public institutions and households.

She noted that Turkiye’s waste recycling rate had increased from 13% to more than 37% during that period.

However, according to Emine Erdogan, the main achievement was not only the increase in recycling rates, but also a change in people’s attitudes toward environmental issues.

‘People realized that they can be not only the objects of change, but also the agents of change,’ she said.

Emine Erdogan called for a reassessment of habits associated with excessive consumption and urged people to build a relationship with nature based on the principles of moderation and fairness.

She drew attention to the scale of the plastic waste problem, noting that around 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced worldwide since the 1950s, of which approximately 7 billion tons have already become waste.

According to her, the environmental consequences of high levels of consumption are distributed unevenly and often fall most heavily on vulnerable communities, regions and future generations.

‘We must rebuild our relationship with nature based on moderation and fairness,’ she stressed.

At the same time, Emine Erdogan said responsibility does not rest solely with individual citizens. Governments and companies must create infrastructure that makes environmentally responsible choices easier, produce goods that are more durable and suitable for repair and reuse, and develop technologies for circular production.

Turkiye’s first lady also highlighted the international promotion of the Zero Waste initiative. In 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the initiative, while March 30 was designated as International Zero Waste Day.

Emine Erdogan said Turkiye intends to promote the approach further at the upcoming COP31 climate summit, which the country will host in November.

‘No goal on its own will be sufficient; no technology on its own will be the solution,’ she said.

According to her, the outcome of climate meetings should be measured not only by the decisions adopted and speeches delivered, but also by the real changes that take place afterward.

Following her speech, Emine Erdogan participated in a workshop led by contemporary marbling artist Garip Ay, with whom she created a work using the traditional art technique. Representatives of the Turkish government, international environmental organizations, the media and numerous guests also attended the event.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to hold another in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump, but no specific date has yet been set.

Russian media, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, reported that he made the remarks while discussing the possibility of another high-level meeting between the two presidents.

According to Peskov, there are currently no specific details regarding a high-level meeting. At the same time, he stressed that Putin remains ready for another Russia-US summit.

‘Presidents Putin and Trump, during their telephone conversations, have indeed always emphasized that, if necessary, they are ready to hold another meeting in due course,’ the Kremlin spokesman said.

The last face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump took place on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. The talks focused on the Russia-Ukraine war and other issues, but no document was signed at the end of the meeting.

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar said at a press conference in Baku ahead of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix that he and the team are aiming for a strong result. He added that they will do their best to remain competitive throughout the weekend.

Hadjar also spoke about his return to the cockpit after last racing in Budapest. He said the time since his previous appearance had felt very long and that he was happy to be back behind the wheel after a difficult period.

The driver added that his wrist is now in good enough condition for him to drive, which he described as the most important thing for him ahead of the weekend.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held at the Baku City Circuit from September 24 to 26 as the 15th round of the Formula 1 season.

The 6.003-kilometre street circuit features 20 corners and will host a 51-lap race covering 306.049 kilometres. Free Practice 1 and 2 will take place on Thursday, followed by Free Practice 3 and qualifying on Friday, while the Grand Prix will be held on Saturday at 15:00 local time.

The Baku circuit combines long, high-speed sections with the narrow streets of the Old City. At its tightest point around the Turn 8 and 9 complex, the track is just 7.6 metres wide. The circuit made its Formula 1 debut in 2016 as the European Grand Prix before returning the following year as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Armenian Foreign Minister and Minister for International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has been appointed the government’s representative during parliamentary discussions on a bill to ratify the Framework Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the United States under the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project.

According to Armenian media reports, the decision was made by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

Mirzoyan has also been appointed the government’s representative during discussions in parliament on a bill to ratify the Charter of the Peace Council.

On June 4, Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a Framework Agreement on strategic cooperation under the TRIPP project.

On August 8, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration following their meeting in Washington.

On the same day, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The two foreign ministers also signed a joint appeal to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office concerning the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group.

The airports in Baghdad and Muscat will stop receiving flights from Iran from midnight local time, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization spokesperson said.

According to Al Arabiya, Iranian civil aviation authorities are in talks with their Iraqi counterparts to redirect flights to Baghdad to Najaf International Airport. Other flights from Iran, including international services to Istanbul, will continue.

The development comes as Iranian airlines face growing restrictions abroad amid a US campaign to further isolate Tehran economically.

Foreign companies providing services to Iranian airlines, including refueling and ground handling, risk being cut off from the US financial system under measures taking effect on Wednesday.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies providing services to Iranian aircraft could face consequences. Speaking to CNBC, he said that companies could not provide fuel or landing services to Iranian aircraft or sell tickets for their flights without risking exclusion from the dollar system.

The latest restrictions are part of Washington’s broader efforts to increase economic pressure on Iran amid the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Bessent said the US was considering airlines, the maritime sector and digital assets as potential targets for further measures.

Washington has accused Iranian commercial airlines of helping transport weapons and fighter aircraft and has blacklisted agents linked to Mahan Air.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on countries at the UN General Assembly to help enforce the complete economic isolation of Iran.