Azerbaijan F1 Track: The Baku City circuit would be hosting this week’s Grand Prix, and we will explain all the details of the track.
The Baku City Circuit is an extraordinary track, as it is a temporary course stretched around the streets of Azerbaijan’s capital city. The first race over here was first raced as the European Grand Prix in 2016, and since 2017 it’s been called the Azerbaijan GP.
The track runs through the UNESCO heritage site, and part of its cobbled streets was covered with asphalt for the first race. Unlike other street circuits, Baku’s circuit gives the space for overtaking and top speed.
The drivers are flat-out for over two kilometres in the run from turn 16 to the pit straight. Last year, F1 fans couldn’t enjoy the visuals of the race here, as the 2020 Grand Prix over here was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 widespread.
Now, with the situation bit better than last year across Europe, Azerbaijan has made a dramatic return with the title race between Mercedes and Red Bull spicing up.
Azerbaijan F1 Track Details
- Circuit length: 6.003 kms (3.73 miles)
- Race Laps: 51
- Race Distance: 306.051km (190.171 miles)
- Turns: 20
- Lap record: 1’43.009 (Charles Leclerc, 2019)
- Fastest Lap set during a Grand Prix: 1’40.495 (Valtteri Bottas, 2019, qualifying three)
- Maximum Speed: 337kph (209.402 mph)
- Gear changes per lap: 78
- Pit Lane time loss: 16.5 secs on avg.
The above details signal the speciality of the Baku City circuit, with the pit lane time loss being the most interesting fact; maybe it is one of the shortest pit lanes in the calendar.
Recently, a change was made in the Baku City Circuit at turn 8; the raised inside kerb has been removed from the inside of the corner, leaving a flatter entry, and a re-profiling of the asphalt should make for a smoother surface beneath the drivers.
With this change, Sky Sports pundit Anthony Davidson has predicted that drivers would manage to add approximately up to 10mph more to their speed at this area.
