F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix preview: Racing near Medieval walls on city streets

The F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on regular streets allows some of the fastest speeds in the season.

By Bruce Brown Published September 13, 2024

Racing by Medieval walls in the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Formula 1 / Formula 1

The F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is held from September 13 to 15 in Baku, the capital city. The event kicked off Friday with Free Practice 1 (FP1) and Free Practice 2 (FP2), which found humid temperatures, a slippery city street circuit, and three red flags during FP1. This is the 17th of 24 Grand Prix races in the F1 2024 schedule. FP3 and the Qualifying session are on Saturday, and the Grand Prix is on Sunday.

Why the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is important

View of the F1 racing circuit and team pits in the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Following the exciting Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, unexpectedly won by home-track Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, the 2024 F1 Driver and Constructors Championships are both still up for grabs, a surprising state of affairs after Red Bull’s dominance early in the season. Points earned by the drivers determine both championships, and the point count is close among the top contenders.

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Every race matters in F1 racing, but driver and team morale can also make a difference. The momentum of winning can be a significant factor in subsequent races. After Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the season’s first four races, many thought Verstappen and Red Bull would sweep 2024’s top spots as they did the three previous years.

Red Bull and Verstappen are still ahead in points. However, the McLaren and Ferrari teams have narrowed the gap in team points to less than 40 points. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc threaten Verstappen’s fourth championship.

What to expect in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Red Bull F1 race car on racing circuit in the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a city circuit on regular streets lined by protective barriers for the race. The picturesque 3.7-mile circuit passes close to stone Medieval walls and stunningly designed modern buildings in the seaside city. It varies in width from six to two lanes and has two lengthy straits that allow some of the fastest speeds in the F1 season.

F1 2024 team and driver standings

Constructor Championship Points:

Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	446
McLaren Mercedes	438
Ferrari	407
Mercedes	292
Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	74
RB Honda RBPT	34
Haas Ferrari	28
Alpine Renault	13
Williams Mercedes	6
Kick Sauber Ferrari	0

Driver Championship Points:

Max Verstappen	Red Bull	303
Lando Norris	McLaren	241
Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	217
Oscar Piastri	McLaren	197
Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	184
Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	164
Sergio Perez	Red Bull	143
George Russell	Mercedes	128
Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	50
Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	24
Nico Hulkenberg	Haas	22
Tsunoda	RB	12
Daniel Ricciardo	RB	12
Pierre Gasly	Alpine	8
Oliver Bearman	Ferrari	6
Kevin Magnussen	Hass	6
Alex Albon	Williams	6
Esteban Ocon	Alpine	5
Guanyu Zhou	Sauber	0
Logan Sargeant	Williams	0
Franco Colapinto	Williams	0
Valtteri Bottas	Sauber	0

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A Digital Trends Contributing Editor and Contributor for TheManual.com, Bruce Brown writes e-mobility reviews and covers…

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