Saturday Showdown: Formula One's Bold Baku Move

Formula One will race on a Saturday in Azerbaijan to avoid a national day conflict. The change comes at the request of local promoters, impacting next year's 24-round calendar. Additionally, pre-season testing begins in January in Spain, marking the start of a new engine era with major technical changes.

Formula One has announced a schedule shift for its Azerbaijan race next year to avoid a clash with a national day event. The race, originally slated for September 27, will now take place on September 26 upon request from local promoters and government stakeholders.

This adjustment means that Formula One will feature two Saturday races in its 24-round calendar for the upcoming season. The second Saturday race is the highly anticipated Las Vegas night grand prix, planned for November 21.

Next season represents a significant change as Formula One teams prepare for a new engine era with major technical overhauls. Pre-season testing will commence behind closed doors in Spain's Barcelona circuit in January, progressing to Bahrain in February, before the season begins in Australia on March 8.