Azerbaijan GP Goes Ahead as Iran War Disrupts F1’s Middle East Calendar

Formula 1 is going ahead with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this week despite continuing uncertainty over races in the Middle East amid the Iran war, with security, travel advisories and airspace access shaping the calendar.

The Baku City Circuit is about 170 km from Azerbaijan's southern border with Iran, making its proximity notable as F1 assesses risks across the region. However, Azerbaijan has been less directly affected than Gulf countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which have faced Iranian strikes and had races called off earlier this year.

In March, Azerbaijan accused Iran of carrying out a drone strike that injured four civilians and damaged part of an airport in the Nakhchivan exclave. Iran's military denied responsibility. The incident did not trigger a major escalation.

Travel advice issued by Britain, where F1 is headquartered and many teams and personnel are based, is also influential. The UK advises against travel to parts of Azerbaijan near the Armenia border and areas affected by previous conflict, primarily because of landmine risks. Baku is outside those areas, while the advisory refers to heightened regional tensions but does not include the warnings issued for Gulf nations.

Azerbaijan's airspace has also become increasingly important for international travel, as airlines use it to avoid Iranian airspace while routing around Russia. This benefits F1's tightly scheduled freight operation, particularly with Azerbaijan beginning a run of three races in three weeks.

The Baku race is also unusual because it will be held on Saturday, with practice on Thursday and qualifying Friday. Sunday is Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day, prompting the change at the request of government stakeholders and the race promoter.

F1 still plans to hold the Qatar Grand Prix in November and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, but has reportedly explored alternatives, with Imola among the options.

The disruption could also affect the 2027 calendar, while other FIA championships have already canceled Middle East events over travel concerns.