On Sunday, President Ilham Aliyev met FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Formula 1's official coverage says the first Grand Prix in Baku took place in 2016. The 2026 race marked the event's tenth anniversary.
Beyond the race weekend
The talks covered ways to strengthen road safety and sustainable mobility cooperation as Azerbaijan invests in transport infrastructure. The FIA said the discussion also covered accessibility. It reiterated its readiness to work with governments and national clubs to make mobility safer and more sustainable. The two sides also discussed how mobility can support economic growth and connectivity.
PlanetF1 reports that Baku had a run of at least nine consecutive races featuring a safety car, virtual safety car or red flag; the last race without any such intervention was in 2016.
This was only dialogue. The meeting recorded shared priorities, not a new programme or specific targets.
Baku's role in the FIA's regional work
Bin Sulayem said the meeting gave the two sides a chance to discuss shared ambitions for motorsport and mobility in Azerbaijan. He credited Baku's Formula 1 success to long-term vision and organisation. He congratulated the country on the anniversary and said he hoped that success would continue.
He also said the FIA would work with governments and member clubs, including the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation, led by Anar Alakbarov. The work would support road safety and easier mobility, as well as sustainability. The FIA's statement highlighted the role of its global member-club network and Azerbaijan's national federation. The visit included meetings with government representatives and people from motorsport and mobility. The Gulf Formula 1 calendar also includes Abu Dhabi, as outlined in the 2027 schedule report.
Formula 1 describes Baku City Circuit as a demanding street track: narrow barriers leave little margin for error, while long straights complicate decisions for drivers and strategists. Its first decade in the calendar has produced numerous memorable moments.
Baku's decade as a host gives the talks a practical setting. But the reported outcome remains dialogue, not a committed safety or sustainability initiative. In 2025, Formula 1 extended the Azerbaijan Grand Prix agreement through 2030. The race is now set to remain on the calendar for the coming years. The meeting's value will depend on whether the FIA and its Azerbaijani partners turn those priorities into concrete cooperation. For now, the conversation has moved beyond the race itself.
