Azerbaijan Grand Prix: could Sergio Perez go back-to-back in Baku?

The need for straight line speed

Azerbaijan joined Formula 1’s calendar in 2016 with a six-kilometre street circuit designed around the roads of capital city, Baku.

The circuit features distinctly different sections that pose a variety of challenges for drivers while also forcing a set-up trade-off for teams to settle upon.

The first part of the lap features lengthy straights and 90-degree corners before the track winds its way into Baku’s Old City, where the circuit narrows into a sequence of tight and fiddly corners alongside high-speed curves. The final two kilometres of the lap is a full-throttle section adjacent to the low-lying Caspian Sea.

That means straight-line speed is highly desirable, but so too is aerodynamic prowess through the corners around the other half of the lap. Drivers also have to be cognisant of keeping their tyres in the optimum window, as well as the brakes, which will have cooled significantly by the time they need them at Turn 1 after two kilometres of full throttle action.

Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a significant improvement on his eighth place last time out in Monaco 

Six from six?

Since Baku joined Formula 1’s calendar in 2016 no driver has yet stepped atop the podium on more than one occasion.

Nico Rosberg was Baku’s first victor, Daniel Ricciardo followed in 2017, before Lewis Hamilton picked up the pieces in 2018 after a late tyre failure for Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas found redemption in 2019 while in 2021 it was Sergio Perez who triumphed for his first victory in Red Bull colours. And if anyone is likely to break that trend then it’ll be the Mexican ace.

Perez (8.6) has a strong record at the Baku City Circuit, having taken podiums in 2016 and 2018 when competing for the mid-ranking Force India operation.

Perez also arrives in Baku off the back of a strong run of form, which includes victory last time out in Monaco, to leave him only 15 points behind team-mate and title leader Max Verstappen. He also has a new deal with Red Bull until 2024 in his pocket.

Red Bull has also displayed strong straight-line speed so far in 2022, and that will be a boon at the high-speed Baku circuit, where overtaking is plentiful.

Saturday form is less influential than at some other circuits meaning Red Bull’s qualifying record in 2022 of two poles to the five of Ferrari – all claimed by Charles Leclerc – will not be such a drawback.

Ricciardo’s 2017 win came from 10^th on the grid while last year Perez moved forwards from sixth to triumph.

Ferrari yet to triumph in Baku

Ferrari is Formula 1’s most successful team but its record in Azerbaijan is far from stellar. It has taken pole position twice, including a shock one in 2021 courtesy of Leclerc, but has not taken a victory in five attempts. Indeed, it has only had two podium finishes at the event.

It is also entering Azerbaijan after a difficult run, having had victory slip through its fingers in Spain and Monaco due to reliability and strategic setbacks.

Baku can also be an event with some unexpected faces towards the sharp end of the grid, owing to the circuit’s propensity for collisions and chaos.

In 2017 Lance Stroll took his maiden podium with a shock third, while last year it was Aston Martin driver Vettel and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly who surprisingly joined race winner Perez in taking home trophies.

That means it could be a weekend where a midfielder avoids trouble around them, and finds themselves collecting a big result.

Keep an eye out for Lando Norris – who did so in Emilia Romagna – and Alfa Romeo driver Bottas, who has scored points in all but one race this year and has a strong record in Baku.

Recommended bets

Max Verstappen @ 2.46
Charles Leclerc pole position @ 2.12
Valtteri Bottas top 3 @ 9.6