F1 qualifying/Le Mans start clash no concern

The later than standard timetable for the Baku weekend means that the 6pm slot for Saturday’s F1 qualifying session coincides with the 4pm French start time for the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

But although that means motorsport fans will have a choice to make between watching F1 or the start of sportscars’ most famous race, Arif Rahimov, the executive director of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, thinks that the timing is nothing to be worried about.

Asked by Motorsport.com about the clash, Rahimov said: “The most important part of Le Mans is the start of the race. But then the most important part of the qualifying is the end of the qualifying.

“So I think with that, we can have the TV audience watch both: the start of Le Mans and the end of the qualifying.”

Rahimov said that there had not been much discussion with F1 and the FIA over the direct clash, as the Baku timetable was dictated by a different array of influences

“The schedule is designed based on a lot of factors,” he said. “There are our internal factors here and all the other bits and pieces that we have to do on Saturday, like the F2 race.

“So there is not usually as much choice with how to move things around time wise. But like I mentioned, I’d be disappointed if the start of Le Mans was clashing with the end of the qualifying. Since it’s clashing with the start, I think that will still bring all the spectators in.”

Keeping June date

Baku is on course for a sell-out this weekend after opening up to spectators again, with a larger number of international visitors buying tickets than before the pandemic.

Baku’s place on the F1 calendar is assured until at least 2024, with a contract having been extended back in 2021.

However, what could change in the future is its race date with F1 looking to group races geographically together to…