The Azerbaijan Grand Prix always promises a wild Formula 1 weekend as the circus rolls into Baku, the city that loves to keep drivers on their toes and fans on the edge of their seats. Here’s a bunch of quick, punchy facts that’ll get anyone up to speed.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Circuit Essentials
The Baku City Circuit slices straight through the heart of Azerbaijan’s capital, mixing modern skyline views with ancient fortress walls. This is a street track, like Monaco, just way faster and a lot wider in some parts, but not everywhere. There’s a section so tight (just 7.8 meters wide near the castle) that one slip and you’re against the wall. Not even kidding.
The circuit measures exactly 6.003 km per lap, and the race runs for 51 laps. So yeah, it’s a bit of a marathon: 306.049 km of drama, speed, and late-braking battles.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Records and Winners
Lap record: Charles Leclerc’s scorching 1:43.009 from 2019 still stands.
Most wins here: That goes to Sergio Pérez, who’s managed to tame Baku twice (2021 and 2023). Other active winners are Lewis Hamilton (2018), Max Verstappen (2022), and Oscar Piastri (2024).
Flashbacks to 2024: Oscar Piastri owned the top step, while Charles Leclerc and George Russell rounded out the podium.
Charles Leclerc is king of qualifying, snagging four pole positions from 2021 to 2024. Hamilton is the only other current driver with a pole here, way back in 2017.
Why Baku Is Special
Cars rocket past old castles and zip through the old city. Seriously, nowhere else do you see F1 cars threading medieval walls and roaring down a straight that stretches a jaw-dropping 2.2 kilometres, the longest on this year’s race calendar.
Overtaking opportunities? You bet. Just watch Turn 1 after that mega straight; it’s where the most action happens as drivers slam the brakes from nearly 350 km/h. The surroundings: the roaring Caspian Sea, buzzing city life, and food you’ll remember long after the podium champagne dries.
And as Pierre Gasly once summed up Baku, “You’re centimetres away from the barrier every lap, the focus here is intense. Go a little wide, and your race is toast.” This race will be nothing short of thrilling, so grab your popcorn and enjoy the show!
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