Wrap Valtteri Bottas and Baku

One of many new occasions within the Method 1 calendar, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has gained a popularity as a race that may trigger confusion within the earlier eight editions. One of many drivers who noticed each side was Valtteri Bottas, and the winner of the 2019 race is Baku’s information to laps.

“I’ve good and unhealthy recollections of Baku. Keep in mind the final punk I’ve had once I lead in 2018!

“For me, what makes this place particular is all the time an unpredictable race. Fairly often, very attention-grabbing. It is onerous to foretell the yellow flag, the security automobile and what’s going to occur subsequent. It is thrilling.

“And the observe itself may be very quick for road circuits. And there is the longest flat-out part, which suggests slipstreaming and overtaking are good.

Bottas obtained a stability alongside the way in which to get a Mercedes victory in 2019. Jerry Andre/Getty Photos

“It is undoubtedly not one of many harder tracks on the circuit. There are actually no excessive velocity corners which might be proper. All of the excessive velocity corners, they’re fully out. Nevertheless it’s a technical observe, because it’s virtually a 90 diploma nook and there are some sluggish sections just like the citadel.

“That is bumpy too. And it is one of many extra technical ones as a result of it is a road circuit and there are some huge strains and there are totally different grips elsewhere.

“It is fairly distinctive. I say, it goes lengthy and straight. Typically it looks like there is no finish. It is fairly cool as a result of you may’t see the buildings or something, it looks like a central sector or a citadel part, an everyday road observe, however the remaining stretch may be very particular.

“The one annoying factor right here is that you simply arrive with chilly brakes so usually. Due to this fact, the primary chew of the brakes is rarely 100%, which makes it much more tough to seek out the most effective brake level for Flip 1.

“The important thing part for me is the final sector. Normally it is a bit of extra uncovered to the wind. It is the final correct nook on Flip 16 earlier than leaving an extended straight. The nook earlier than that – Flip 15 incorporates a downhill.

Baku’s outdated and new wild combine matches with lengthy, quick straights and tight sluggish nook combos. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photos

“In races, it is normally actually dominated by growing old on the rear. We’ve got some races with unhealthy particle issues and it is normally very tough to steer the rear to the entrance stability when it comes to put on profiles. So, as a driver, you’ll want to change your driving a bit of.

“You may play and play with the setup utilizing a bit of extra entrance tire, however that is the identical factor. If it isn’t scorching, you are likely to battle with the entrance tires, particularly on the cooler facet of the floor, once they’re braking.

“It is all the time a downforce degree compromise right here, however that is not simple in that sense, how a lot confidence you need to really feel within the corners, and the way aggressive you need to play towards different automobiles, and that is not simple in that sense.

“I’ve all the time loved it. Like I mentioned, I had good recollections and horrifying recollections, however it’s all the time an thrilling race. And normally, we really feel like we’re doing very nicely right here.”

At a look
Race distance: 51 laps/190.9 miles
2024 pole time: 1M41.365S (Charles Leclerc, Ferrari)
2024 Winners: Oscar Piastri, McLaren Mercedes
Pirelli tire allocation: Pirelli brings the softest trio of 2025 to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This can be a softer step than final 12 months. In actual fact, the C6 has returned as a mushy one, and is already in use in Imola, Monaco and Montreal. C5 is the medium and C4 is tough.

A road circuit with low grip and put on inevitably created a one-stop technique when it introduced the identical alternative as in 2024. Not less than, this 12 months’s vary is far much less from gaining particles, it opens up the chances of a two-stop technique. Moreover, this 12 months, lately at Monza, it’s clear that it’s unlikely that the race will see very totally different methods, as groups and drivers are proficient in managing their tires nicely. Though it is a road truck, Baku has a really lengthy straight that causes the automobile to hit a really excessive prime velocity, inflicting a big vertical load to be utilized to the tires.