F1, Ferrari: most important facts, stats and figures in Baku

F1, Ferrari: most important facts, stats and figures in Baku | 2023 Azerbaijan GP. Most important facts, stats and figures in Baku.

LOCATION: Baku
FIRST GP: 2016
CIRCUIT LENGTH: 6.003 km
RACE DISTANCE: 306.049 km
LAPS: 51
BEST LAPS: 1:43.009
Charles Leclerc (2019)

BAKU CITY CIRCUIT
The Baku city street circuit remains the fastest street track on the Formula 1 calendar. 6.003 kilometres in length, it first appeared as the European Grand Prix in 2016. As from the next season, it changed its name to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The track features long straights and right-angle turns which means that engine power becomes a very important requirement, while drivers need to get very close to the walls in search of a quick lap, taking advantage of every inch of the track. One key feature is how to keep the brakes and tyres up to temperature, as they cool down more than usual on the long straights. There is also a tighter section around turns 8,9,10 and 11, including the incredibly narrow section around the ancient castle, where good traction is very important in terms of lap time.

TURN 15
This corner is slightly downhill and drivers have to brake on the turn, therefore it is easy to get it wrong, missing the apex and therefore losing time.

A VERY LONG STRAIGHT
The map of the Baku city street circuit is a bit deceptive. It lists turns 17, 18, 19 and 20, but the section is actually taken flat out and with the DRS activated, cars can reach 350 km/h as they head for the best overtaking opportunity at the first turn.