The FIA Formula 2 Championship has announced an expanded race weekend format for the 2026 Azerbaijan round, adding a second Qualifying session and an additional Feature Race to the schedule in Baku.
Round 12 of the 2026 season will take place at the Baku City Circuit from 24–26 September and will feature five competitive sessions across three days. The series will then return to its standard format for the final two rounds of the campaign in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Formula 2 expands Baku weekend
Formula 2 will serve as the only support series at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, giving the championship more space in the weekend timetable. The series and event promoters have consequently opted for an expanded programme in Baku. Drivers will complete one Free Practice session, two Qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races across the weekend.
FIA Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel explained the reasoning behind the one-off format.
“As Formula 2 is the only Support Event at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix, together with the promoters, we have opted for a supersized F2 race weekend, with one Free Practice, two Qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races. This is the only weekend where the Timetable allows the additional sessions, which will increase the level of entertainment even further for the attending crowd and all our fans. The Baku City Circuit always provides us with amazing racing, so we’re very pleased to make the 12th Round of our season pretty unique.”
“We will then revert to our usual race weekend format for the final two rounds of the 2026 season, which will be held at Doha and Yas Marina.”
Two Qualifying sessions to set the grids
The Baku weekend will begin on Thursday morning with a 45-minute Free Practice session before the drivers return to the circuit for Qualifying later that afternoon. Unlike a regular Formula 2 weekend, the field will contest two consecutive 20-minute Qualifying sessions. Each session will determine a different starting grid across the three races.
The first Qualifying session will set the starting order for Friday afternoon’s opening Feature Race. Its results will also determine the reverse-grid order for Friday morning’s Sprint Race. The second Qualifying session will set the grid for the second Feature Race, which will take place on Saturday morning.
Drivers will also have two opportunities to earn points for pole position, with the fastest driver in each Qualifying session receiving two championship points.
Two Feature Races increase points on offer
Friday will feature both the Sprint Race and the first Feature Race before the second Feature Race concludes the Formula 2 action on Saturday morning. Both Feature Races will use the championship’s standard points allocation, increasing the number of points available to drivers and teams during the weekend.
Each Feature Race will also offer one point for the fastest lap, provided the driver who records it finishes inside the top 10 of the final classification in accordance with the FIA Formula 2 Sporting Regulations. With two Feature Races and two pole position bonuses available, the Baku round could prove particularly significant in the championship battle as the season approaches its final stages.
Standard format returns for final rounds
The expanded schedule will remain exclusive to Baku. Formula 2 will return to its traditional weekend structure when the championship travels to Qatar and Abu Dhabi for the final two rounds of the 2026 season. Those weekends will once again feature one Free Practice session, one Qualifying session, a Sprint Race and a Feature Race.
The one-off format in Azerbaijan therefore presents drivers and teams with an unusual challenge and additional opportunities to score valuable championship points before the season concludes in the Middle East.
