NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Formula 1 drivers and teams are setting up at the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, marking Round 17 on the calendar.

Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 will take place on Friday, September 19, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday, September 20 and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday, September 21.

Vital statistics

• First Grand Prix – 2017 (2016 as the European Grand Prix)
• Track Length – 6.003km
• Lap record – 1m 43.009s, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2019
• Most pole positions – Charles Leclerc (4)
• Most wins – Sergio Perez (2)
• Trivia – At its narrowest point (the Turn 8/9 ‘Old Town’ complex), the circuit is just 7.6 metres wide
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 141 metres (shortest on the calendar)
• Overtakes completed in 2024 – 66
• Safety Car probability – 57%
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 43%
• Pit stop time loss – 19.7 seconds (including 2.5s stationary)

The driver’s verdict

Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: A long lap – there’s so much to put together in Baku, with lengthy straights and big braking zones in the first sector, before a winding second sector and a tough third sector.

Braking for Turn 1 is tricky; the corner comes quickly after the start-finish line, but it somehow seems to take such a long time to get there from the final turn. With some slipstream, whether you luck into it or orchestrate it, you can gain a huge amount of time.

That’s something to watch for in Qualifying, but out-laps are also important; the track surface isn’t so abrasive, so with a slow out-lap you could fail to warm up the tyres and lock up into Turn 1.

The notorious castle section in the middle of the track is narrow and a place where accidents can easily happen, but the trickiest corner is probably Turn 15, where you’re accelerating towards the end of the lap.

Turn 15 is an unsighted left-hander in which you’re braking slightly to the right, then you’ve got to slow it down and not get into the run-off area, and avoid the looming walls in the process.

It’s all about the braking and, like at any street circuit, there’s plenty of time to be gained if you can carry sufficient speed out of the apex – just don’t get greedy with the apex and clout the wall.

Azerbaijan GP pole-sitters

• 2024 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 2023 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 2022 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 2021 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 2019 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

Azerbaijan GP winners

• 2024 – Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• 2023 – Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
• 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2021 – Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
• 2019 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

Tyre and strategy insight

“On a street circuit with low levels of grip and wear, bringing the same selection as in 2024 would inevitably have led to a one-stop strategy,” reads Pirelli’s preview.

“At least this way, considering that this year’s range suffers much less from graining, it opens up the possibility of a two-stop strategy.

“Moreover, it is clear that this year, most recently at Monza, the teams and drivers have become adept at managing the tyres well, so that the race is unlikely to see very different strategies.

“Although it’s a street track, Baku has some very long straights – where the cars hit very high top speeds – that place significant vertical loads on the tyres.”

Current form

For the first time since the Austrian Grand Prix back in June, championship leaders McLaren are heading into a weekend aiming to return to winning ways – following on from Max Verstappen and the resurgent Red Bull’s impressive triumph at Monza last time out.

Might we see another head-to-head between the Dutchman and the papaya cars at the Baku City Circuit? Can Charles Leclerc give Ferrari something to celebrate by making it five straight poles on Azerbaijan’s streets? And what about Mercedes’ chances of getting back in the mix?

Given the unique demands of this track, and the fine margins at play so far this season, it will be a fascinating three days of action as those questions are answered.

That said, McLaren have their first chance to wrap up the 2025 Teams’ Championship in ‘the land of fire’, given the huge points advantage the squad boast over nearest rivals Ferrari – F1.com running through the all-important permutations right here.

Behind the top-four group, F1’s midfield fight remains as close as ever, highlighted by just 42 points covering Williams in fifth, Aston Martin in sixth, Racing Bulls in seventh, Kick Sauber in eighth and Haas in ninth.

With so much drama unfolding in Baku over the years, the weekend could present a golden opportunity for one of those outfits – and even Alpine, who have been cut adrift in 10th – to get their hands on a big haul of points.

We will be with you for every twist and turn...

Iconic moment

Azerbaijan has played host to some action-packed, drama-filled races since the country arrived on the F1 calendar nine years ago, with the high-speed Baku venue and its fearsome concrete walls catching out plenty of drivers.

But one moment that remains in the memory for another reason is Daniel Ricciardo’s incredible overtaking display during the 2017 encounter, the highlight of which was a three-car pass down the main straight and into Turn 1.

Running behind Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg and the Williams cars of Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll, the Australian used the slipstream to perfection before slamming on the brakes at the last moment and somehow keeping it out of the wall.

Watch Ricciardo’s stunning move in the video player below.