Quick details forward of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix, GP Azerbaijan, Baku Avenue Circuit

Following a three-week break after the incident-filled Melbourne race, Components One is again in motion with Baku staging Spherical 4 of the 2023 F1 World Championship, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. F1Technical’s Balazs Szabo picks out the important thing moments of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Racing

Debut – Baku made its debut in 2016, introducing a brand new kind of road circuit in comparison with gradual road tracks. In distinction to the twisting structure and low common speeds related to current short-term tracks reminiscent of Monaco, the capital of Azerbaijan constructed its monitor round a powerful 2.2-kilometre-long important straight.

Leclerc – The official monitor report belongs to Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc who recorded a 1m43. 009 when the sector visited the fabulous metropolis of Baku in 2019.

6.003km – The Baku Metropolis Circuit is the third longest race monitor on the present Components One calendar, solely Spa-Franchorchamps and Jeddah mendacity forward.

Eighteen – Lance Stroll was 18 years and 239 days outdated when he claimed his first podium end through the 2017 Baku race. The Canadian was operating second within the race, however he was then crushed by Valtteri Bottas, taking third ultimately.

Six– Thus far, Baku has hosted F1 race on six events. The race has been received by completely different drivers every time. Nico Rosberg received the inaugural occasion in 2016, Daniel Ricciardo emerged victorious in 2017 whereas Lewis Hamilton took the victory in 2018 after inheriting the lead three laps from end when his team-mate Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture. The Finn lastly got here out on high in 2019 whereas Sergio Perez received the Baku race in 2021 after his group mate Max Verstappen misplaced an in any other case straightforward victory attributable to a puncture. Final yr noticed reigning champion Verstappen safe his first victory in Azerbaijan.

Mercedes and Purple Bull territory – Mercedes and Purple Bull have been probably the most profitable groups in Azerbaijan thus far. The Brackley-based outfit have received 3 times in Baku whereas Purple Bull have additionally clinched three victories courtesy of Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

Winds – The Baku Metropolis Circuit is thought for its eventful races – that’s what has made the nonetheless contemporary addition to the race calendar one of the spectacular races in its quick historical past within the sport. Baku has the title of the Metropolis of Winds as a result of it’s windy all through a lot of the yr. In accordance with the Azerbaijani mythology and beliefs, the fixed winds are associated to the wrestle of Good and Evil.

One-stop strategy- Pirelli thinks that the 51-lap Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a transparent one-stopper, underneath regular circumstances. However there are two methods to strategy it, and likewise a excessive security automotive likelihood, which might flip issues round solely.

The simplest means is to start out on the P Zero Yellow medium after which transfer onto the P Zero White onerous. This offers a large pit cease window and subsequently loads of choices, making it a superb conservative alternative. These wishing to attempt one thing a bit edgier might use onerous to delicate. Stopping two instances is clearly the slower strategy, however these choosing a two-stop technique is predicted to start out on the medium earlier than switching to the onerous compound for the final two stints.

Two DRS zones – There will probably be two DRS zones in at the moment’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The primary may have its detection level on the SC2 line whereas its activation zone will probably be at 54m after Flip 2. The second may have a detection level at Flip 20 with its activation level situated 447m after Flip 20 which signifies that the second DRS zone has been made shorter by 100m for this yr.

Race distance – Drivers might want to full 51 laps in whole to cowl the entire race distance of 306.049km. The pitlane velocity restrict will probably be 80kph through the race.

Tradition

Outdated a brand new – Baku as a metropolis mixes the outdated with the brand new and the circuit exhibits off this mix effectively. Quite a few trendy high-rise lodges and skyscrapers are dotted across the circuit’s perimeter. However as magnificent as a few of these buildings are, none of them sit fairly as near the motion because the fortress partitions of Baku’s outdated metropolis – a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

Seven – Outlets are open seven days per week and usually open round at 10 a.m. and shut round 10 p.m. Places of work and banks are usually open between 9 a.m and 6 p.m. from Monday till Friday.

Dawn – Baku is the primary European metropolis which the solar rises in.

Caspian Sea – Baku lies on the jap aspect of Azerbaijan and is surrounded by the Caspian Sea which is the world’s largest lake. At 28 metres beneath sea degree, Baku is the bottom mendacity nationwide capital on this planet.

3 million – Baku is house to three million individuals which makes it the biggest metropolis on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus area.

Neft Dashari – The town is legendary for the distinctive Oil Rocks which is the biggest inhabited and oldest oil metropolis on this planet, mendacity in the course of the Caspian Sea.

Metropolis of Contrasts’ – Baku earned this title with having completely mixed the wonder and intrigue of its historical previous with its ambition to determine itself as a contemporary European metropolis that includes award profitable structure, enterprise centres and skyscrapers.

Tipping – It isn’t anticipated throughout Azerbaijan however is widespread in Baku. Sometimes a service cost is included on the invoice, significantly in additional established lodges and eating places.

Manat – The nationwide forex is the Azerbaijani Manat. The Manat notes are available 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 denominations. Apparently, it isn’t attainable to change different forex into Manat in international locations aside from Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani – That’s how the official language of Azerbaijan is named. Nevertheless, many individuals communicate additionally Russian, Turkish and English.