What to expect from the Azerbaijan GP 2024 – Cole’s Commentary

It’s RAAAAAAACE WEEK – and it’s at Baku, which makes it even BETTER. 

The Baku City Circuit is one of the most thrilling and unpredictable tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, plus it has an insanely stunning backdrop – set along the beautiful Caspian Sea and weaving through the historic streets of Azerbaijan's capital.

Baku treats us to a hot-to-go combination of long, high-speed straights and tight, narrow sections that test every aspect of driver skills and car setup. 

Butttt it’s not just the aesthetic appeal that makes Baku special—this track is also well known for producing some of the most exciting races of the season. With regular crashes, tight battles, and multiple overtaking opportunities, Baku has quickly become a favourite for many F1 fans (myself included).

What Makes Baku SO Special

Baku’s charm lies in its ability to blend the modern with the traditional.

On one hand, you have futuristic skyscrapers like the Flame Towers, towering over the city’s skyline. On the other hand, you have Baku’s historic old town, Icheri Sheher, with its narrow streets and medieval walls – it really is the best of both worlds tbh. 

What to expect from the Azerbaijan GP 2024

While the backdrop is defs a sight to marvel at, the track itself is arguably even better – a true test for drivers. The long, fast straights allow for incredible speeds, while the tight, winding corners require precision driving. 

This combination makes Baku one of the most technically demanding circuits on the calendar.

Not like the other tracks

The Baku City Circuit is unlike any other street track – it blends elements of both traditional circuits and city streets, with wide, fast sections and narrow, tricky corners. 

Baku Circuit Layout

Here’s a lil look into a few key parts of the track:

The Looooong Straight

• One of the longest straights in Formula 1, stretching 2.2 kilometres from Turn 16 all the way to Turn 1. 

• Cars can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h here, making it a prime spot for overtaking.  

The Narrow Old City Sector

• As the cars wind through the Old City at Turns 7, 8, and 9, the track narrows to just 7.6 metres (kinda crazy, right?!) 

• This section is MEGA technical, with tight corners and very little room for error. 

• Any mistake here can result in a crash or significant time loss.

Speed Kachow Corners

• Turns 18 and 19 are super high-speed corners that test the balance and aerodynamics of the cars.

• Drivers have to try to navigate these bends at around 300 km/h, which is INSANE.

Baku’s Role in Formula 1 History

Baku is one of the newer additions to the Formula 1 calendar, having hosted its first race in 2016. 

So, I know what you’re thinking: “Cole, WHAT HISTORY could you possibly be talking about if it’s been around only as long as Fortnite, basically” 

Wellllll, since its introduction to the F1 calendar, it has quickly gained a reputation for producing exciting, unpredictable races, like: 

The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix where Danny Ric took an unexpected victory, while a controversial inchident between Hamilton and Vettel made headlines.

The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix where both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton suffered biggg setbacks, with Verstappen crashing out from the lead and Hamilton missing a chance to capitalise, allowing Sergio Pérez to #snatch the win. Damn, I really haven’t felt alive since the 2021 season, huh. 

Anyway, what I’m getting at is: Baku is generally pretty spicy and I am HERE. FOR. IT.

Challenges for Drivers & Teams

Baku’s setup also forces engineers to make difficult setup decisions, trying to find balance between maximising straight-line speed and still somehow ensuring enough downforce for the twisty-turny technical bits of the circuit. Not easy. 

The Car Setup Situation

Teams must find a delicate balance between running a low-downforce setup for the long straight and enough downforce to grip the car through the narrow, winding Old City section. 

This compromise can be uh – tricky – to get right, as going too far in either direction can leave a car vulnerable to either being overtaken or struggling in the tighter sections of the track.

Neither of which any of the teams want, I can tell you that much.

Tyre Management

Tyre management is CRITICAL at Baku because of how varied the circuit is – the high-speed sections put major strain on the tyres, while the slow-speed corners require maximum grip. 

This weekend, Pirelli is bringing its softest range of compounds—C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft)—to (hopefully) handle these demands:

• C3 (Hard) will likely be the go-to tyre for longer stints due to its durability, especially after the first round of pit stops. Drivers will want to switch to this compound for the second half of the race to minimise the risk of tyre deg on the fast sections of the track.

• C4 (Medium) will offer a balance between speed and durability, making it a good choice for the opening stint. I think we can expect most drivers to start on this compound.

• C5 (Soft) is the fastest tyre buttttt  also the least durable. It will likely be used during qualifying to help secure the best grid positions but may not feature heavily during the race – unless there’s a late Safety Car period.

Teams will need to VERY carefully manage tyre wear, as overuse on the long straights can degrade performance, especially toward the end of the race.

Safety Cars and Inchidents

With such a tight, technical track, crashes and incidents are pretty common, often bringing out the Safety Car, which means that the teams need to be prepared for sudden strategy changes, especially if the SC comes out during a major pit window.

Upgrades to look out for

As the Formula 1 season heats up, teams are bringing crucial upgrades to the Baku Grand

Prix to gain an edge. With Baku’s unique demands, these updates can make or break a team’s performance. 

Mercedes has been focusing on optimizing their car for the high-speed demands of tracks like Baku. 

They’ve introduced a revised beam wing, which will help balance the car’s downforce requirements. This will give them more speed on the straights without sacrificing too much grip in the corners. The team is also working on fine-tuning their floor design to generate more aerodynamic efficiency, crucial for the fast sections of the track.

Red Bull is looking to reclaim their early-season dominance with a new underfloor design. 

This upgrade is expected to improve the car’s overall balance, addressing the oversteer and understeer issues they’ve faced in recent races. Red Bull’s straight-line speed is already impressive, so this upgrade is aimed at helping them manage the twisty middle sector more effectively.

McLaren

McLaren has been a consistent threat this season, and they’re continuing their push with new updates to their rear suspension. 

This upgrade will help improve traction through the low-speed corners, a critical area for the Old City section. Additionally, McLaren is expected to bring minor aerodynamic tweaks to increase their top speed on the long straights, aiming to close the gap to Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship.

Ferrari is focusing on upgrades to improve cornering performance, particularly in slow-speed sections like Baku’s Old City. 

They’ve introduced a new front wing design that increases downforce, helping them through the technical parts of the circuit. In addition, Ferrari is expected to bring updates to their suspension system to enhance stability and improve tyre management, especially critical for the long stints at Baku.

The Baku City Circuit is a true test of both driver skill and team strategy. 

Its unique layout, combining high-speed straights with narrow, technical sections, guarantees action-packed racing. With tyre management, car setup, and race strategy all playing pivotal roles, the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be one of the most exciting races of the season.

Plus, with teams like Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari bringing significant upgrades, this race could be a turning point in the championship battle. 

All-in-all – prooooobably not a race you want to miss.