Race Preview: Azerbaijan

Everything you need to know ahead of Albono’s visit to Baku

Published

10 Sep 2024

Est Reading Time

2 min

Alex will get the chance to build on his P9 finish in Monza when he heads to the Baku City Circuit this weekend.

AA23 can secure points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the first time, having come close on three occasions — placing P11 in 2019 before recording a pair of P12 finishes in his last two visits.

To do so, he will need to contend with one of Formula 1’s most unpredictable tracks.

Introduced to the F1 calendar in 2016, the street circuit is renowned for its long straight and a narrow run alongside a castle, at a venue that consistently tests drivers’ skills — as well as team strategies.

With a dramatic setting by the banks of the Caspian Sea, the Baku City Circuit stretches across 6.003 km (3.730 miles) and contains 20 turns.

Four 90-degree corners in Sector 1 make for an interesting opening to proceedings, with Turn 1 and Turn 3 offering ample opportunities for overtakes.

The challenges continue into Sector 2, when Alex will have to navigate the aforementioned narrow castle, before heading into the long main straight.

Then, get ready for high speeds and further chances to overtake in the final sector, when Albono will charge down the longest flat-out section in F1.

Azerbaijan often delivers drama and there could be plenty of it in Round 17, as Alex targets consecutive points returns for the first time this season.