Key Highlights
- Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 Formula 1 championship after a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix victory, holding a lead of over 100 points on defending champion Lando Norris.
- The Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit runs September 24–26, with U.S. viewers able to stream the entire weekend free via a 7-day Apple TV+ trial through Prime Video Channels.
- Multiple trial-stacking options exist: new Amazon Prime members get 30 days free, Apple TV+ offers a direct 7-day trial, Apple One bundles a 1-month trial, and eligible hardware purchases unlock 3 months free.
Antonelli Extends Championship Lead Heading Into Baku
Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Baku City Circuit as the clear championship leader after securing a dramatic victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. The win extended his advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell and left defending champion Lando Norris facing a deficit exceeding 100 points—a margin that appears increasingly insurmountable with only a handful of races remaining in the 2026 season. Despite the mathematical mountain, Norris and McLaren enter the weekend with renewed pace following their latest upgrade package, aiming to chip away at Antonelli’s commanding lead on a circuit renowned for unpredictability.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Weekend Schedule
The 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar kicks off with two practice sessions on Wednesday, September 24. Practice 1 runs from 4:30–5:30 a.m. ET, followed by Practice 2 from 8:00–9:00 a.m. ET. Saturday, September 25, features Practice 3 (4:30–5:30 a.m. ET) and Qualifying (8:00–9:00 a.m. ET), setting the grid for Sunday’s main event. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix lights out at 7:00 a.m. ET on September 26, offering U.S. audiences a prime morning viewing window for one of the season’s most chaotic and entertaining street circuits.
How to Stream the Azerbaijan GP for Free in the U.S.
Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in 2026, but cord-cutters can access the full Azerbaijan weekend without a long-term commitment. The most accessible route is a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ via Prime Video Channels, available to anyone with an Amazon account. The subscription auto-renews at $12.99 per month after the trial, but users can disable automatic renewal immediately after signup and still stream every session—practice, qualifying, and race—at no cost. For viewers without an active Prime membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers; stacking that with the Apple TV+ channel trial yields a truly zero-cost viewing window.
Alternative Free-Trial Pathways
If the Prime Video Channels route has already been used, several fallback options remain. New standalone Apple TV+ subscribers qualify for a direct 7-day trial through the Apple TV app. The Apple One bundle—packaging Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage—provides a full one-month free trial before reverting to $19.95 per month. The most generous offer ties to hardware: purchasing an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV 4K grants new subscribers three months of Apple TV+ at no extra charge, effectively unlocking a significant portion of the remaining F1 calendar for buyers already planning a device upgrade.
Why This Matters
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix represents a critical inflection point in the 2026 championship. With Antonelli’s lead now exceeding 100 points, the title fight is effectively a damage-limitation exercise for Norris and McLaren, while Mercedes can focus on securing the Constructors’ Championship. From a broadcasting perspective, the race underscores Apple’s expanding sports-rights portfolio and the growing role of streaming aggregators like Prime Video Channels in reducing friction for casual viewers. The proliferation of stackable free trials also highlights how consumers can navigate the fragmented streaming landscape to access premium live sports without recurring costs—provided they track trial eligibility and cancellation deadlines carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the Azerbaijan GP for free if I’ve already used an Apple TV+ trial?
Yes. If you’ve exhausted the Prime Video Channels trial, you can still access a 7-day free trial directly through the Apple TV app as a new standalone subscriber, a 1-month trial via the Apple One bundle, or a 3-month trial with the purchase of an eligible Apple device.
What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix race start in U.S. time zones?
The race begins at 7:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 26, which corresponds to 4:00 a.m. PT, 6:00 a.m. CT, and 12:00 p.m. BST for international reference.
Will the Apple TV+ subscription auto-renew after the free trial?
Yes, the subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after the 7-day trial unless you disable automatic renewal in your account settings. You can cancel at any time during the trial period and retain access through the full seven days.
