Baku City Circuit

The Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan is one of the most exciting and visually stunning tracks in the world of Formula 1. Located in the heart of Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, this street circuit has quickly become a fan favorite since its debut in 2016. Hosting both the European Grand Prix and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku offers a unique blend of high-speed straights and technical corners, all set against the backdrop of a historic and modern cityscape.

Designed by renowned architect Hermann Tilke, the circuit spans over 6 kilometers, making it one of the longest on the Formula 1 calendar. With 20 turns, including narrow sections that are only 7.6 meters wide, such as the tricky castle section, Baku provides an adrenaline-pumping challenge for drivers. The layout of the track ensures that overtaking opportunities are abundant, especially on the long straights.

Baku is often referred to as one of the most visually striking venues on the Formula 1 calendar. The Baku City Circuit runs through both the modern downtown and the historic Old City, offering a blend of architectural beauty. One of the most iconic features of the track is its proximity to the Maiden Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 12th century.

As the cars race through the narrow, winding streets near the Maiden Tower, the challenge for drivers intensifies. The tight section is often a hotspot for accidents, with Charles Leclerc among those who have crashed there in the past. The 19th and 20th corners are particularly famous for their high-speed nature, providing an exhilarating finish to the long straights that make up this unique circuit.

Since its debut in 2016, the Baku City Circuit has been known for its dramatic races and unpredictable results. Each year has brought something new, with different winners in every year but one, making this one of the most exciting events on the calendar.

Some notable highlights of the Formula 1 races in Baku include the inaugural race in 2016 which was one by Nico Rosberg, but Sergio Pérez surprised everyone by taking his Force India to the podium. One year later this race was marred by chaos and drama, a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel behind the Safety Car forced both of them to take it to the pits, causing Ricciardo to win from tenth on the grid, while Lance Stroll secured a podium for the first time in the sport. 

2018 included the infamous thriller of a race, the excitement kicked off as Ricciardo was chasing his teammate Max Verstappen. The two Red Bulls had a fierce battle, but it shed tears for the Austrian team as their drivers crashed out in Turn 1 after Verstappen shut the door on his teammate who set up a move under braking. Bottas looked on for a win in a Mercedes one-two finish, but in the closing stages the Fin punctured his right-rear tire on debris from the Red Bull crash causing Hamilton to win the event. 2021 featured another shock puncture at the end of the race, leader Max Verstappen suffered a crash at immense speed on the main straight due to a tire pop, at the red flag restart his title rival Lewis Hamilton went straight on in Turn 1 and dropped outside the top ten. Sergio Pérez won the race ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly. Finally, Verstappen took the win in Azerbaijan in 2022 after both Ferrari cars suffered mechanical failures. 

In 2023, Pérez became Baku’s first-ever repeat winner, and remains to be the only driver to achieve this in Formula 1. Last year saw a thrilling battle between pole sitter Leclerc and Piastri, the Brit brilliantly divebombed the Ferrari driver and held on to the lead for the remainder of the race.

Like any winner in Baku whose name is not Sergio Pérez, Hamilton was victorious in Azerbaijan once in his career. 2018 was the year in which the Brit got it all together in Baku, he benefited from teammate Bottas’ bad luck who punctured his right rear tire on debris from the infamous Red Bull collision that happened earlier that race. What looked to become a certain Mercedes one-two finish, fell apart as Bottas could not score points. In other years, however, Hamilton has been quite unlucky. 2017, for example, featured a collision with Sebastian Vettel behind the Safety Car, causing both drivers to drop back in the final classifications. In 2021, the seven-time world champion was in a sublime position to score big points in the championship as his rival Max Verstappen had crashed out due to a late puncture. At the red flag restart, however, Hamilton went straight ahead in Turn 1 after sending it on leader Sergio Pérez. Hamilton ultimately scored zero points in that race.

Baku's street circuit combines both modern and historic elements, offering a visually stunning yet challenging layout. The narrow, winding sections provide little room for error, making this one of the most exciting and unpredictable races in the calendar. The high-speed straights, particularly the long section leading into Turn 1, are perfect for dramatic overtakes, but the tight, slow corners often catch drivers out. The unpredictability of the race and the constant possibility of crashes or safety cars makes Baku one of the most thrilling events in Formula 1.