2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Race preview, tips & favourites

• 24 September - Practice 1 (09:30 BST)

• 24 September - Practice 2 (13:00 BST)

• 25 September - Practice 3 (09:30 BST)

• 25 September - Qualifying (13:00 BST)

• 26 September - Race (12:00 BST)

After victory in Madrid saw him win back-to-back races for the fifth time this season, World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is once again the bookies' favourite ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the 20-year-old fancied to win his ninth race of the year - continuing to make something of a mockery of the rest of the field in the process.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris is tipped to be his closest challenger in Baku, with the Brit claiming three top-three finishes in the last four races (including two wins), while pre-season favourite George Russell completes Ladbrokes' top three. A small jump in the odds then brings in Max Verstappen, who has performed excellently of late with five podiums in seven races - despite an underwhelming Red Bull car - and seems to be nearing a first race win of 2026.

The Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are next in line according to Ladbrokes' latest Azerbaijan Grand Prix odds, with the pair both hunting their second win of the season, before Oscar Piastri rounds off the regular top seven as the only other man with odds of less than 80/1.

If we've learnt one thing this season, it's that Kimi Antonelli is favourite for a reason, and having backed him to victory at the Madring, we're having him as our race winner (yet again) in Azerbaijan. Verstappen's strong form could continue after winning here last year, and it's seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who completes our podium.

• 1st - Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

• 2nd - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

• 3rd - Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

• 4th - George Russell (Mercedes)

• 5th - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

• 6th - Lando Norris (McLaren)

• 7th - Liam Lawson (Red Bull)

• 8th - Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

• 9th - Arvid Lindblad (VCARB)

• 10th - Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

• 11th - Alex Albon (Williams)

• 12th - Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

• 13th - Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

• 14th - Carlos Sainz (Williams)

• 15th - Ollie Bearman (Haas)

• 16th - Yuki Tsunoda (VCARB)

• 17th - Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

• 18th - Esteban Ocon (Haas)

• 19th - Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

• 20th - Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

• 21st - Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

• 22nd - Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.