Azerbaijan GP

• Track insights

  The Baku City Circuit always produces fiery fights, largely due to the track’s enormous straight. Between Turns 16 to 1, drivers can put their foot down and go flat out for 2.2km. For context, the Circuit de Monaco is only 3.337km in its entirety.

  There are technically four turns during this 2.2km sequence, including changes of direction at Turns 18 and 19, but the foot never lifts off the pedal, and it all leads up to a mega overtaking opportunity at Turn 1.

  As street circuits go, Azerbaijan is among the most spacious, but that doesn’t mean it’s all wide-open roads and overtaking opportunities… There’s a snug little section that spans just 7.6 metres wall-to-wall, requiring Monaco-esque levels of precision.

  Given the variety of challenges that the Baku City Circuit offers up, it can be tricky for engineers to know how to set up – do you look to exploit the long-straight and accept that you’ll lose out in many of the corners, or do you focus on the corners and just try to tread water between Turns 16 and 1?

• What's it like in Baku?

  With an alluring combination of historical and modern architecture, located on the Caspian Sea coastline, the city of Baku makes for a stunning backdrop for Formula 1 racing.

  Azerbaijan is known as “The Land of Fire” and, rather appropriately, features a burning mountain known as the Yanar Dağ, which is an entirely natural fire that has been burning for more than 65 years, kept ablaze by natural gases that seep through the ground. In keeping with the fiery theme, the Baku city skyline is also dominated by the famous Flame Towers, which light up at night.

  Situated between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Azerbaijani culture takes influence from each. One of the country’s traditional dishes is the Shakh Pilaf, made from lamb and dried fruits, and baked in Lavash bread. If you’re going, you should also try their black tea, brewed in a small metal urn, known as a samovar, and served with fruits such as lemon, sugar cubes and sweets.

• Stat pack

  • Lando has scored points every time he has raced in Azerbaijan, a record that dates back to his 2018 F2 campaign
  • Oscar scored a podium in the 2021 Formula 2 Feature Race at Baku
  • Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Baku City Circuit was opened in 2017
  • At 6.003km, the Baku City Circuit is the fourth longest on the calendar