As the Formula One calendar enters its decisive stretch, the streets of Baku gear up to host the 2025 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix alongside the continued Formula 2 championship.
This year, the stakes are higher than ever, with McLaren arriving to seal the Constructors’ Championship.
Baku City Circuit Track Layout
The Baku City Circuit combines high-speed sections, notably the ~2.2 km main straight, with tight and twisty segments, especially the Old City section with narrow walls.
The track demands a compromise: straight-line speed vs. downforce for the corners – mistakes are punished severely in the tight sections.
Due to lower grip, smoother surface, risk of graining and cooling issues, teams will need to watch tyre temperatures, especially during transitions (after safety cars/restarts) and the long straights.
Based on these factors, Pirelli is bringing their softest set of compounds: the C6 as Soft, C5 Medium, and the C4 Hard.
“It’s one of the few places where you can go from hero to zero in one lap, one missed braking point, and you’re in the wall. But get it right, and it’s magic.”
– Oscar Piastri, Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 Winner
McLaren has won 12 of 16 races so far this season, including seven 1‑2 finishes. If things go well, they could clinch the Constructors’ Championship in Baku.
With 617 points, the gap between McLaren and Ferrari in the championship is 337 points.
The papaya clan will have to outscore Ferrari by at least 9 points to win the Constructors’ title this weekend.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to get here, now it’s about staying focused. The job’s not done until it’s done.”
Drivers with a good history in Baku, like Charles Leclerc, who was a pole sitter, and Oscar Piastri’s who was the 2024 race winner, will try to capitalise as they know the lay of the land.
But newer or less experienced drivers may struggle with the walls & tight sectors; last year, Franco Colapinto made his F1 debut in Baku with Williams and scored 4 points for the team.
This year, he has scored zero points while racing for Alpine; with a memorable F1 debut, the Argentine could push to replicate the moment this weekend.
Deciding Factors
As always, qualifying will be key; starting position matters a lot in Baku due to the difficulty of overtaking in narrow parts, the involvement of a safety car is highly, likely which can reshuffle the entire grid.
Last year, Sergio Perez was leading the race, before a crash with Carlos Sainz caused both of them to DNF with damaged cars.
Given that this is an important weekend for McLaren in particular, they may have to manage Norris vs Piastri, depending on the championship situation.
F2 Returns
Formula 2 returns to Baku for the championship; the title fight has been tight.
Leonardo Fornaroli has surged into the championship lead, closely followed by Luke Browning and Richard Verschoor, with Alex Dunne also pushing hard.
Catch the whole weekend schedule on The Girls Who Motorsport Instagram account.
