The 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The Baku City Circuit has been on the calendar since 2016, albeit as a Grand Prix of Europe at the time. As of 2017, the race was renamed Azerbaijan GP and has already seen fireworks on the streets of Baku several times. In 2017 the impossible to forget fight between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel behind the safety car, in 2018 the drama for both Red Bulls.
Since 2020, due to the arrival of the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and then the coronavirus pandemic, this race has been shifted more towards the spring and is held before a visit to Miami and the Monaco Grand Prix.
With more than six kilometres of asphalt, the lap times of the GP of Baku are logically a lot higher than those of the small round through the principality. Charles Leclerc recorded a 1:41.218 pole time in 2021, which means that the drivers are on the road more than half a minute longer than in Monte Carlo. One of the highest top speeds of the year is also measured here. Something that is impossible in Monaco. What is also special is that there is not yet one driver who has won twice on the Baku City Circuit.
What does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix race weekend look like?
On 28th April, the first free practice starts at 10:30 AM UK time. However, the schedule then looks a little different. Formula 1 brings its sprint race weekend format to Baku for the very first time and qualifying will take place on Friday at 14:00 UK time. Practice two then takes place on Saturday 29th April, before the sprint race at 14:30 UK time. The race will then continue as normal on Sunday 30th April at 12:00 UK time.
What time does the Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?
As in previous years, the GP of Azerbaijan can be followed live in the GPblog live blog from half an hour before the start of the race. The start time of the Baku Grand Prix is 12:00 UK time and the race can also be followed live on your chosen TV option.
