This weekend F1 returns to the Baku street circuit in Azerbaijan with both the Driver’s and Constructor’s Championship nicely poised. Known for its narrow width and unforgiving turns, the Grand Prix has seen some iconic moments over the years keeping the drives and fans on the knife edge.
Ahead of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, let us take a look at facts, figures, and previous winners of one of the most entertaining weekends in the F1 calendar.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix winners over the years
Azerbaijan has been home to 6 F1 Grand Prix’s so far with the first race taking place in 2017. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) won the inaugural race in Baku and Sergio Perez is the most successful driver in the Grand Prix with 2 wins in 2021 and 2023 (both with Red Bull). Lewis Hamilton (2018), Valtteri Bottas (2019) and Max Verstappen (2022) all have one wins to their name.
In 2020, the event did not take place due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Track numbers and statistics
- Track Length – 6.003km
- Lap record – 1m 43.009s, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2019
- Most pole positions – Charles Leclerc (4)
- Trivia – At its narrowest point (the Turn 8/9 ‘Old Town’ complex), the circuit is just 7.6 meters wide
- Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 141 meters (shortest on the calendar)
- Overtakes completed in 2023 – 50
- Safety Car probability – 57%
- Virtual Safety Car probability – 29%
- Pit stop time loss – 19.8 seconds (including 2.5s stationary)
What tyre strategy is mostly used at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
With the race taking place in September, the weather is generally quite hot and humid with gusty winds blowing across the track. Additionally, the track temperature is significantly higher than other circuits because it’s a street track with regular traffic running on it prior to the race.
This makes it difficult for drivers to run on soft tyres during the race as they tend to degrade quickly. The teams thus generally use medium compound tyres to start the race and later switch to the hard compounds making a 1-stop race a preferred strategy for the teams.
Also, the undercut is very powerful in Baku compared to the other street tracks, making the strategists sweat for the pit timings which play a huge part in deciding the outcome of the race.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Iconic moments
In its short history, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has seen many iconic moments that have helped drivers and teams to reshape their season. Here are some of the most iconic moments of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen collision in 2018
Verstappen and Ricciardo were teammates in 2018 and the two were neck and neck in points earned in the season. Both wanted to establish themselves as the main man of the team. In Baku, the pair found each other in close quarters in the start-finish straight and the battle intensified as Verstappen aggressively defended against Ricciardo’s overtake, with the two drivers making wheel-to-wheel contact multiple times while fighting for position.
The pivotal moment in Baku 💥
Ricciardo and Verstappen collide in dramatic fashion
Recording a second double-DNF for Red Bull in three races#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/OMwH9Ct9BV
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 29, 2018
The clash reached its peak when Ricciardo collided with the rear of Verstappen, resulting in both drivers retiring from the race immediately.
Max Verstappen’s tyre failure in 2021
In the astonishing 2021 season, Max Verstappen again crashed in Baku, this time due to a tyre failure. The Dutchman crashed into the wall at over 200mph, scattering debris across the track with just six laps remaining in the race. Verstappen’s crash ultimately led to Sergio Perez winning the race which was also his first-ever win for Redbull.
Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton collide during the safety car in 2017
During the peak years of rivalry between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, both drivers were determined to assert their dominance over each other. During the safety car period in Baku in 2017, Hamilton abruptly braked on the straight, causing Vettel to collide with the back of his Mercedes. In response, Vettel appeared to retaliate by deliberately hitting Hamilton on the back.
Controversy at Baku, Hamilton and Vettel collide pic.twitter.com/GbbJbTJwjr
— Ferrari Focus (@Scuderiascoop) September 9, 2024
The incident is regarded as one of the greatest incidents in the safety car history highlighting the dominance of the two protagonists during that period.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
