Key moment for Honda with longest straight in F1 calendar

Red Bull Racing are the favourites to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but much will depend on Honda. With a 2.2km long straight, it will be up to Honda to give Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez an engine that can outperform the Mercedes drivers.

Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen emerge from Monaco as the leaders of the drivers' and constructors' championship. This is the first time since 2013 that Red Bull has been on top and the first time that Verstappen has been on top of the standings. Honda knows what it has to do and is looking forward to the challenges in Baku.

Pressure on Honda

''At a little over six kilometres, it is one of the longest circuits on the calendar and while the first and second sectors are typical of many street tracks, with several similar 90 degree corners, in the final sector the cars spend a long time at full acceleration. It is therefore important to find the right balance in terms of car set-up for the low speed corners and the long straight'', says Toyoharu Tanabe in the preview from Honda.

''With the PU, having good driveability is important for the low speed corners, while energy management is a factor for the long acceleration down the straight. As usual, we will base our settings on the data we have acquired so far this season, as well as from the 2019 edition of this race,'' concludes the Honda chief.