The 17th stage of the Formula 1 calendar brings us to the banks of the Caspian Sea. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held at the Baku Urban Circuit, between September 19th and 21st, in a race that tends to provide exciting and unpredictable outcomes, able to completely shuffle the championship classification.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its famous Citadin circuitwhich runs through the heart of the city of Baku, going through the historical center of the capital as by the most modern zone.
Currently, it is the Longer third track on the calendar of Formula 1, just behind spa-francorchamps and jeddah, with a total of 6.003 km long e 20 curves. Counts on Two Zones of DRS (Drag Reduction System) e 51 laps Not total.
As in the Monaco Grand Prix, any Error can be fataldue to tight curves and constant proximity of the walls. Nevertheless, it is also one of the Faster championship clueswith the pilots to reach speeds of 340 km/h in the long main straight line.
In which times o GP do Azerbaijan?
Friday, September 19:
- Free Training 1 (FP1): 09:30 – 10:30
- Free Training 2 (FP2): 13:00 – 14:00
- Free Training 3 (FP3): 09:30 – 10:30
- Qualification: 13:00 – 14:00
(Continental Portugal time)
Young man on the calendar, but giant in history
It may not seem like it, but the It is one of the latest in the Formula 1 calendar, with less than a decade of existence.
Its debut took place in 2016 and, throughout the eight races Who has welcomed since then, has proven to have a lot to offer.
“Gloves! Gloves! Steering wheel!”
In the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen, He went through a caricatured situation: after a relate after a red flag, the mechanics pushed his car out of boxesbut they forgot a fundamental accessory: the steering wheel.
To make matters worse, the famous “Iceman” He noticed that he didn’t have the gloves either. A moment that was in the history of Formula 1 as one of the best ‘memes’ of the sport.
Wall of pain
As tight curves From the Baku circuit are relentless and not even the most talented riders in the world escape this reality. The walls and barriers From the city layout invariably make new victims, but there are those who repeat this outcome.
The most celebrated example of this proximity ratio between Leclerc and Baku walls It was the qualification for the 2019 race, with the pilot ‘Ferrarista’ to mislead in the highly challenging -and so often fateful – – “Castle climb” – tem seven meters wideonly five more than a Formula 1 car – and uttering a vent that would become a meme global.
Leclerc and Baku: a bittersweet novel
Despite incidents that have so often compromised the installments of the Monegasco pilot in Azerbaijan, Charles Leclerc is The King of Saturdays in Baku. Record holder of pole positions In that big prize, it was the fastest in the last four qualification sessions, between 2021 and 2024.
If you reach the farm pole In Baku, Leclerc will match a Record at Ferrari of the legendary Michael Schumacherwhich reached a series of cinco poles consecutive In two tracks: Suzuka (GP Japan) and Barcelona (GP Spain).
The hegemony reached on Saturday has not, however, had a reflection in Sunday’s race, since Leclerc Never won in Baku.
Such a sequence is Very rare in the history of Formula 1and only two other pilots repeated such a record: Ayrton Senna (won six poles in the Australian Grand Prix, having only won the fifth attempt) and Jim Clark (He left the first place in the Monaco on four occasions, but never finished the races the next day).
The “Magic Button” that betrayed Hamilton
Na 2021 seasondecided on the last lap of the last race, a involuntary touch on a button Mercedes W12 steering wheel made Lewis Hamilton Failed the braking for curve 1 and miss the opportunity to add (crucial) points in the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan.
The British pilot was starting from second position to the racingafter a red flag period motivated by an accident by rival Max Verstappen. In an attempt to overcome Sergio Pérez – only pilot who won twice at Azerbaijan – Hamilton failed the braking and ended in the escape of the first curve, ending the race in the penultimate place. An agonizing moment that almost left the former pilot Mark Webber without voice.
O “magic button“, as it is called, changes the balance of the brakes to the front wheels and helps pilots to put temperature on the tires and brakes during the formation turns or in running resumes after a safety car. Hamilton’s accidental touch left the W12 without brakes at the rearwhat motivated the wheel lock and inevitable track departure.
The Danny Ric Show
One of the most iconic moments in the short, albeit intense, history of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was starred by one of the most charismatic pilots of recent decades. We speak, of course, Daniel Ricciardo.
A impressive sequence of overtaking In the 2017 race, won by the Australian pilot after a 10th place of the grill, it was heyond a dispute to three in full curve 1at the end of the goal line.
Who won last year?
Speaking of Australian talentthe Baku circuit witnessed in 2024 the a triumph that, coupled with the fourth position of Lando Norris, earned McLaren the climb to the top of the World Cup Builders (where it has not left), surpassing Red Bull.
Charles Leclerc, in second place, and George Russellthird, they completed the podium.
Who also stood out was Franco frankntotowho won the first points of the careerwhen finishing eighth. Albon was seventh and the Two Williams cars were at the pointssomething that has not occurred since the Great Award of the 2023.
Who leads the pilot and builders championships?
Com 16 of 24 events disputed in the 2025 season, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) maintains a solid advantage at the top of World Pilotseven though shorten compared to the previous race since it ended behind the team colleague Lando Norris in .
No Championship of Buildersa McLaren walks stride, towards the second consecutive title: It has 617 points, more than double the Ferrari (280) and Mercedes (260).
McLaren can become champion in Baku
McLaren now has 617 pointsand is 337 points ahead of Ferrari (which is the second classified). Still missing eight races For the end of the season, but the future of the British team can be decided this weekend.
As explained by to ensure the title of builders already in Baku, McLaren needs that in this race there will be the following conditions:
- Gain at least 9 points more than Ferrari
- Not lose more than 12 points for Mercedes
- Do not allow the Red Bull Recover more than 33 points
If McLaren wins the title in Baku, it will establish a New record by becoming champion with the largest number of races yet to play. Currently, this feat belongs to Red Bull, which in 2023, during the Japan Grand Prix, guaranteed the
