#F1 Qatar Airways #AzerbaijanGP 2025 Preview. #Formula1
Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 Race Start, Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan. Image credit to Zak Mauger/LAT Images. 2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview, Azerbaijan Grand Prix Preview, F1 Baku GP Preview, 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Preview.
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – After Max Verstappen cruised to a dominant victory at the Italian GP as Lando Norris clawed back three points from McLaren championship leading team-mate Oscar Piastri after taking second place, round 17 of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship returns to the streets of Baku in Azerbaijan this weekend for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025. The inaugural Formula 1 race at the circuit was named the European Grand Prix. This will be the eighth event under the Azerbaijan Grand Prix banner.
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – A look at the Baku City Circuit
The Baku City Circuit is a street circuit constructed near the Baku Boulevard in the capital city of Baku in Azerbaijan. The layout of the circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke and the circuit itself is claimed to be the fastest street circuit on the Formula 1 calendar and the second longest after the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The circuit will start adjacent to Adazliq Square, then will do a loop around Government House before heading west to the Maiden Tower. Then the track will have a narrow uphill traversal and then circle the Old City before opening onto a 2.2 km (1.4 mi) straight along Neftchilar Avenue back to the start/finish line.
“Our brief to Tilke Engineering was simple – create a circuit that is unique, one that will help the Grand Prix in Baku quickly establish itself as one of the most exciting, thrilling venues on the F1 calendar, and one that the fans and teams alike are excited about,” explained Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport. “Most importantly, we wanted a track that would showcase the best of Baku, our capital city, and I am delighted that the circuit has achieved exactly that aim.”
The Baku City Circuit runs in an anticlockwise direction and is 6.003km (3.730 miles) in length with 20 corners.
The race distance is 306.306km (190.332 miles) in length with 51 laps in total.
Charles Leclerc holds the fastest lap record from the 2019 event with a 1:43.009 set in his Scuderia Ferrari SF90.
Red Bull Racing are the most successful Constructor at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with four victories (2023, 2022, 2021 and 2017).
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2024: Oscar Piastri, McLaren Racing. 2023: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2021: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, (Not Held-2020), 2019: Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1.
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – Onboard Lap of the Baku Street Circuit
Here is the onboard pole position lap of the Baku Street Circuit from the 2024 event, set by Charles Leclerc in his Scuderia Ferrari SF-24. The Monegasque driver posted a 1:41.365. You can watch the footage right here at the link: Charles Leclerc’s Pole Lap | 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Pirelli – YouTube
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Baku, the white-branded C4 white side-walled Hard rubber, the yellow-marked C5 Medium tyres and the red side-walled C6 Soft compounds along with the green-branded Intermediates and blue-marked Full Wets in case of rain.
Drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two sets of the hards.
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be two DRS zones on the streets of Baku with the first DRS zone 730 metres on the approach to turn one with the second DRS zone 630 metres on the approach of turn three.
2025 Azerbaijan GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speeds will be 60km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Verstappen cruises to dominant Italian GP victory
Verstappen Italian GP Victory – Reigning world champion Max Verstappen lead a faultless drive from start-to-finish to clinch his 66th-career victory at the Italian GP ahead of McLaren pairing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who rounded out the top three runners.
This was Verstappen’s first victory since the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix back in May and his third of the season as Norris brought the championship lead gap down to team-mate Piastri to 31 points.
In the Constructor’s Championship, McLaren could secure their second consecutive title if they outscore Ferrari by 46 points.
Before the race started, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg was told to retire the car due to a hydraulics issue.
When the 53-lap Italian GP began, pole-sitter Verstappen got a solid getaway into turn one as behind him Piastri had an excellent slip-stream from the Dutchman.
Norris went on the grass and somehow remained in control. Verstappen then went across the run-off area; he had to give the place back. Piastri lost grip and lost out to Leclerc, but he grabbed the place back around the outside into turn 6.
Verstappen was told to give the place back to Norris and does so on the main straight on the beginning of the second tour as Leclerc overtook Piastri for third – those two were fighting it out beautifully here – and that one isn’t finished yet.
Antonelli lost places at the start, he was in tenth as Hamilton was up to eighth.
With DRS and a great slipstream down the main-straight, Verstappen made a move around the outside and dived past Norris into the Variante Dell Rettifilo to retake the lead as the latter suffered a lock-up.
Further back, Hamilton picked off Alonso for seventh. Bortoleto next up for the Ferrari driver.
At the beginning of the fifth lap, Verstappen’s lead over Norris was at 1.1 seconds with Leclerc holding third, Piastri fourth, Russell fifth as Bortoleto rounded out the top six.
On lap six, Piastri snatched third back off Leclerc with a slip-stream and DRS down the main-straight and making the move around the outside like Verstappen done so into the Variante Dell Rettifilo Chicane to take the place.
On the seventh tour, the situation was Verstappen leading the race having had to cede P1 at the end of the opening lap. Norris was second but more than a second behind the Dutchman so did not have DRS here at this stage.
Piastri was third and trying to catch back up to the front two, with Leclerc still within DRS range behind the championship leader.
Further back, Hamilton passed Bortoleto for sixth into his favoured Variante Dell Rettifilo Chicane.
On the eighth lap, Verstappen lead was now 2.2 seconds over Norris.
Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll were under investigation at this stage, for forcing another driver off the track.
On lap 10, Verstappen’s lead increased to 3 seconds over Norris with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth as Russell was right on the tail of the Ferrari in fifth and Hamilton completed the top six in the other SF-25 entry.
Ocon was given a five-grid placed penalty for squeezing Stroll off the track at the Variante Della Roggia Chicane.
Lap 12 – Verstappen was leading the Italian GP by 3.5 seconds, so the Dutchman was pretty much out of undercut range already. Norris was 4.9 seconds ahead of his McLaren team-mate Piastri. Leclerc was a further 2.2 seconds back, whilst Russell was hanging on to the SF-25 entry.
On the 13th tour – Verstappen was flying in clean air – posting the fastest lap and toured three tenths faster than Norris last time around to extend his lead to nearly four seconds.
Lap 14 saw the lone Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in seventh holding up a train of cars, including Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso behind, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. That DRS train goes all the way to Stroll down in 15th.
On the 15th tour – Verstappen remained in the lead as the gap reached 4.2 seconds the gap. Piastri could not stick with his team-mate Norris, with the championship leader 5.6 seconds back. The trio have a little gap to the Ferrari sandwich behind, Leclerc leading Russell and Hamilton.
Lap 17 – Verstappen was flying to post another fastest lap with the RB21 looking solid as the gap was up to 4.3 seconds to the good over Norris.
Lap 18 saw Antonelli finally pick off Tsunoda for ninth and Sainz suffered a lock up, ran wide and not returned to the track correcting.
On lap 19, Haas’s Oliver Bearman pitted from 11th to break out of the Bortoleto DRS train to try an undercut and emerged at the rear. The Briton put on a fresh set of the hards.
Lap 20, Red Bull reacted with Tsunoda, and the Japanese driver also stopped for the hards and came out just ahead of the Haas.
As they ran towards the Variante Della Roggia Chicane, Bearman jumped the Red Bull to move up into 18th.
On the 21st tour – both Bortoleto and Alonso came in for a fresh set of the hards – the latter managed to jump his protégé in the pits after the Sauber suffered a slow stop to take 15th and Bortoleto dropped into 16th behind Lawson as he exited the pit-lane onto the main-straight.
Lap 22 – thanks to Bortoleto and Alonso pitting, Antonelli was up into seventh place. Hamilton remained two seconds behind Russell, as his charge stalled at this stage. Leclerc had totally lost touch with Piastri ahead in third, who likewise was six seconds behind team-mate Norris.
Lap 23 – Despite being out of undercut range, Verstappen was on a charge. But how much longer could these C4 these mediums last? He was over six seconds clear of Norris now out front and lapping two tenths faster per tour.
On the 25th tour – the situation was all front runners all have fresh air and thus, were not working their tyres as hard as those in the DRS train.
Alonso was seen travelling slowly after suffering a suspension failure with replays showing the suspension breaking after running over the rumble strips at the exit of the Variante Ascari.
The Spaniard grumbled: “Suspension failure, this is so unbelievable,” and was the second retiree of the race as he parked it in the garage.
On lap 27 – neither Williams driver has pitted, Alexander Albon in eighth and Sainz in ninth. But Sainz could be in trouble – he was currently being investigated for failing to return to the track correctly a little time ago.
The 29th tour saw fifth-placed Russell pit for his fresh set of hards to try and undercut Leclerc in fourth and with a 2.9 second stop – the Mercedes driver emerged in 12th place behind Hadjar.
A lap later, Antonelli pitted from sixth for his fresh set of the C3 harder rubber and emerged in 14th place ahead of Bortoleto as Sainz was given a reprimand.
Replays showed severe blistering on race leader Verstappen’s medium tyres as the Dutchman on lap 30 held a 5.8 second lead over Norris with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth and Hamilton completed the top five with all of them yet-to-pit for their fresh set of the harder compounds.
On lap 31, Norris had attempted to close up a bit, bringing Verstappen’s gap to just under six seconds. But the Dutchman was pushing on and trying to regain that time lost. Sainz stopped from seventh for his fresh set of the white side-walled C3’s and came out in 16th place behind Bearman.
Replays on lap 32 saw a lock up into the first chicane, as 12th-placed Franco Colapinto in his A525 entry ran wide. The Argentine had yet to pit, so that might persuade the Enstone based-outfit to bring him in if he had a flat-spot.
A lap later Isack Hadjar pitted from ninth to emerge in 16th place behind Sainz.
On the 34th lap fourth-placed Leclerc suffered a lock-up just crossing the pit-entry line and stopped for a fresh set of the C3’s and came out in sixth place behind the yet-to-pit Albon.
Lap 36 in the battle for seventh place, Russell with DRS assistance breezed his way passed Ocon just before reaching the Variante Dell Rettifilo Chicane.
Out-front – Verstappen was still having a faultless race out there at this stage of proceedings. He led by 5.5 seconds from Norris, as the Dutchman chased a third Monza win. Piastri remained in a distant third.
On lap 38 – Verstappen relinquished the lead to Norris for his fresh set of the C3’s and with a great 2.3 second stop – emerged in third place behind Piastri.
Lap 39 saw fourth-placed Hamilton pit for his fresh set of the harder compound and came out in ninth behind Stroll.
In the battle for the final points place – Antonelli put on a brave bold move around the outside of Gasly at La Curva Grande to take the position as on lap 40 the yet-to-pit Norris was 5.255 seconds ahead of team-mate Piastri with Verstappen chasing them down in third, Albon fourth, Leclerc fifth as Russell completed the top six.
On the 41st tour – Sainz and Bearman have a big moment! They both made contact at the Variante Della Roggia, both spin round and little the track with some gravel.
The stewards noted the collision between the duo.
During that stage, Albon pitted for his set of hards and came out in tenth – Hamilton made his way back into sixth place breezing past both Stroll and Ocon.
Sainz and Bearman were down 14th and 15th now. Sainz from behind had the slipstream, got ahead and Bearman tagged the Williams.
Lap 46 – McLaren swapped their drivers to take their pit-stops as Piastri bolted on a set of the C5 softer compounds and came out in third behind Verstappen as Bearman was hit with a 10-second penalty for his collision with Sainz.
On lap 47 – Norris pitted for his set of the C5’s and suffered a front-left wheel gun issue and a slow-stop – emerging behind team-mate Piastri.
Lap 48 – So, the situation was – Verstappen – who had been making great progress today – was back in the lead of the race. Piastri was second and 18 seconds back. Norris was now two seconds adrift on softs, the same as his team-mate. Leclerc was fourth, ahead of Russell and Hamilton.
And Albon and Antonelli were under investigation for forcing another driver off the track.
On lap 49 – McLaren ordered Piastri to let Norris through by remembering last year’s Hungarian GP. They said they pitted the Briton first, asking Piastri to play the team game and thus fair is fair. Piastri said his piece, that a slow stop was part of racing as he let Norris back up into second.
“You are free to race,” Piastri was told after letting Norris ahead.
On lap 51 – Stroll pitted leaving just Ocon yet to stop. Stroll’s stop was slow and dropped way down the order. This meant Bortoleto was back in the points.
Ocon was the last driver to stop on the penultimate tour for a set of softs and came out in 15th behind Lawson.
On the last lap – Antonelli was given a five-second-time penalty for causing a collision as Verstappen crossed the line to take the Italian GP victory by 19.207 seconds over Norris as Piastri completed the top three.
The two Ferrari’s of Leclerc and Hamilton finished at the team’s home Grand Prix in fourth and sixth respectively whilst Russell split the pairing in fifth.
Albon was next in seventh and ahead of Bortoleto who came home eighth whilst Antonelli and Hadjar rounded out the top ten runners.
2025 Azerbaijan GP – The Situation
The final eight Grands Prix of the 2025 season begins this weekend with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the streets of Baku.
McLaren title contenders and rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris head into round 17 a touch closer on points than had been the case going to the previous race at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the Melbournite’s lead over his British team-mate cut down to 31 points after the latter had the better weekend in Italy.
But the Woking based-squad who had to pick their way out of a late team orders issue after a slow pit-stop for Norris, suffered their fourth race day defeat this season as Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Verstappen solidly returned to winning form.
Verstappen had a rare off weekend when Formula 1 raced in Baku last time out, on a weekend Piastri showcased his talent of a front-runner by beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – who has scored the last four poles on the Baku City Circuit – to what was his second-career victory.
Norris drove a great recovery drive to fourth after some yellow-flag trouble had left the Briton 15th on the grid, suggesting that both McLaren drivers should do well again on a weekend where the reigning Constructor’s Champion could wrap up their 10th Constructors title crown.
The Baku City Circuit is well-known for it’s drama too. On a wall-lined street circuit where controversy and incidents often occur, last year’s event ended under a virtual safety car after a big crash between Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez who were battling for the podium.
Piastri heads to Azerbaijan sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship Standings with 324 points and a 31-point-advantage over McLaren team-mate Norris who Is second on 293 points whilst reigning world champion Verstappen is third and a further 94 points behind the Australian and on 230 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team comes to Baku sitting on top of the Constructors Championship with 617 points and a massive 337 point-lead over nearest rivals Scuderia Ferrari who are second on 280 points whilst Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team are a further -points behind the Woking-based outfit in third on 260 points.
Click here for the 2025 World Driver’s (Top Ten) and World Constructor’s Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 weekend begins Friday September 19 with Free Practice 1 and 2, followed Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday September 20 and the 51 Lap Race Sunday September 21.
