Here we are, the time has almost come for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the eighth stage of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. The official website of Formula 1 offers us five points for which the Baku race should be considered an appointment not to be missed.
Here are the topics highlighted by Formula1.com in an analysis by Chris Medland.
1. Sergio Perez and the fight for the 2022 Formula 1 title
After the Spanish Grand Prix, many thought that Red Bull had risked too much to support Max Verstappen in the title race already in the sixth race. In any case, Sergio Perez, winning in Monte Carlo, made sure that certain speeches can no longer be carried on. The Mexican just seemed more comfortable than the Dutch driver for most of the weekend.
The win in Monaco was the second success that Sergio Perez has achieved for Red Bull, after the one scored in Azerbaijan 12 months ago, when he started sixth and finished first. We can assume that Checo will want to again be the a protagonist in Baku this season.
Could Sergio Perez take two straight wins for the first time in his career?
2. Ferrari needs to capitalize on their opportunities
Charles Leclerc looked so quick in the title race after the Australian Grand Prix, when he got a 25-point lead over the rest of the drivers. He had also gained that margin thanks to previous Red Bull retirements. Then the RB18 cars became more reliable, and Ferrari started wasting several chances. In Spain, Charles Leclerc looked comfortably fastest and should have won, but with an engine problem he had to retire. And then in Monaco, the curse of the home race struck again, with the Ferrari number 16 finishing fourth due to several strategy errors from the Maranello team while Charles was in the lead.
In what will be a tough championship battle with Red Bull, Ferrari cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes and will try to bounce back in Baku this weekend.
3. What can Mercedes do in Baku?
It is difficult to include Mercedes in the battle for the championship, despite George Russell currently being fourth in the drivers’ standings. This position was obtained by the British thanks to his consistency, but only in Spain the W13 seemed a real threat to Scuderia Ferrari and Red Bull. Barcelona seemed to represent then exception for the Brackley team after the difficulties of the beginning of the season, but Monaco was once again a step backwards.
It will be interesting to see if the characteristics of the Baku International Circuit, a very different street track from Monte Carlo – will help the Silver Arrows or instead make things even more difficult for them.
4 Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo under pressure
Monaco has also been a difficult weekend for two drivers who have had a very complicated season so far. Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher has yet to score his first points in Formula 1, despite Haas having a car which has significantly improved as compared to last season.
The contact with Sebastian Vettel in Miami cost him his best chance of scoring his first point, but the same cannot be said of his crash in Monaco. In this regard, Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner said, “It’s not very satisfying to have a big crash again. We have to see how to move forward from here.”
Racing on another street circuit is probably not what Mick Schumacher needs right now to rebuild his confidence. But the young German has shown some good signs in the last period and has the opportunity to reedem himself in Baku. The same can be said of Daniel Ricciardo who, like Sergio Perez, won a race in Azerbaijan and therefore has fond memories of the place. A return to the top-10 is not impossible for the Australian driver and could do him really well under the moral aspect.
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5. Racing even closer on a spectacular track
Daniel Ricciardo’s win in 2017 was just one of many extraordinary races in Baku, with last year’s dramatic final which saw Lewis Hamilton miss the win due to a braking mistake at Turn 1. The track saw many exciting situations and while it punishes mistakes severely, it offers plenty of overtaking opportunities.
The new regulations introduced this year made it easier for drivers to follow closely and try to take action. Who knows what the combo between the 2022 cars and the exciting track layout will offer this year.
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