{
  "id": 9134159,
  "title": "Why Formula 1 is racing in Azerbaijan, which borders Iran, amid uncertainty over Middle East races",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/why-formula-1-is-racing-in-azerbaijan-which-borders-iran-amid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T11:42:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/autoracing/2026/09/22/why-formula-1-is-racing-in-azerbaijan-which-borders-iran-amid-uncertainty-over-middle-east-races"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The ongoing conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan has disrupted the international sports calendar, with Formula 1 (F1) making an exception by racing in Azerbaijan this week. Despite the geopolitical tensions, F1 has managed to secure a race in Azerbaijan, which borders Iran, despite earlier race cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Baku City Circuit, hosting this week's race, is situated approximately 105 miles (170 kilometers) from the nearest point on Azerbaijan's southern border with Iran, making it closer than the tracks in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia which had races called off earlier this year.\n\nAzerbaijan's proximity to Iran has raised security concerns, but the country has been less directly affected by the Iran war compared to the Gulf nations, many of which have been targeted by Iranian strikes. In March, Azerbaijan accused Iran of a drone strike that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building in the Nakchivan exclave, although Iran denied involvement. Despite the heightened risk of regional tension, British travel advice does not recommend avoiding Azerbaijan's border with Armenia or areas affected by past armed conflicts due to a risk of landmines. However, these areas are not near the capital, Baku.\n\nAzerbaijan's strategic importance lies in its airspace, which is crucial for global travel and events like F1. The country's airspace is among the busiest in the world, facilitating the shipment of thousands of parts and tires for F1 teams. The Iran war has increased the busyness of Azerbaijan's airspace, as airlines utilize it to avoid Russian airspace, which closed to European and U.S. airlines in 2022. This air access is particularly valuable for F1, as the country hosts three races in three weeks, creating a tight turnaround for staff and cargo. F1 has scheduled a replacement race in Malaysia and moved the Bahrain Grand Prix to next week to accommodate the tight schedule.\n\nThe Azerbaijan Grand Prix is taking place on a Saturday due to Remembrance Day being celebrated on Sunday, a national holiday. F1 deemed it appropriate to move the event due to government stakeholders and the race promoter's requests. Practice will be held on Thursday, and qualifying will be on Friday. The date of September 27, 2020, marks the anniversary of the Karabakh conflict, known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh, which was controlled by ethnic Armenian forces at the time. Azerbaijan later reclaimed full control of the region in 2023. While F1 remains committed to racing in Qatar in November and Abu Dhabi in December if possible, it has also explored backup options. A replacement race at Italy's Imola circuit is the most likely alternative. The cancellation of other world championships' races in the Middle East, such as the World Rally Championship in Saudi Arabia and the World Endurance Championship in Bahrain and Qatar, further highlights the impact of the Iran war on the F1 schedule.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "F1 races in Azerbaijan despite Iran conflict",
    "Baku Circuit 170 km from Iran border",
    "Azerbaijan crucial for F1 air access"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}