Toto Talks Azerbaijan
The last two race weekends have delivered good results, but they don't change our assessment of where we stand. There are several teams capable of fighting at the front on any given weekend and in Madrid, we performed well but also benefited from things falling our way during the race. We are realistic about that.
Now we head into the first of three triple-headers to end the season. It will be a demanding period for the whole team, both at the factories and trackside. There is very little time to reset between races, so preparation, reliability and operational execution become even more important. These are the moments where our championship position can be strengthened or lost.
We start in Baku. It is one of the most unusual circuits on the calendar. It asks a lot from the car and the drivers. You need good straight-line speed, confidence in the braking zones and a car that can handle the low-speed corners through the old city.
Recent results have been encouraging, but they don't guarantee anything. Baku will expose any weakness very quickly. We have to approach the weekend with humility, do the basics well, and earn every point.
Third Driver Insight
Baku is a unique challenge. With its long straights, energy management is always a key factor, but it also offers some of the best overtaking opportunities on the calendar. To be quick here, you need to use every centimeter of the circuit and commit to getting close to the walls.
From a driver's perspective, taking those risks can be very rewarding, especially through Sector 2 where the corners are extremely tight and the barriers are always within touching distance. If you can carry speed through that section, it can make a significant difference over a qualifying lap. The downside is that even the smallest mistake usually results in damage and can easily bring a session to an end.
It's a fantastic circuit and one of the highlights of the season. Despite being a street track, it produces great racing and plenty of overtaking, which always makes for an exciting race and some memorable battles.
Did you know?
- This year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks a significant milestone as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary.
- The Baku City Circuit is the fourth longest on the F1 calendar this year.
- The 2.2 km start/finish straight contributes to a difficult restart for the leader, with a strong tow for the driver behind leaving them vulnerable into Turn 1.
- The name Baku derives from the shortened Persian name Bad-kuye, meaning "wind city", along with Bad-kube, which means "wind-hitting." Both terms refer to the famously consistently strong winds that blow through the city.
- Baku hosted an F1 Sprint weekend for the one and only time to date in 2023.
- In 2024, the event moved dates to September for the first time, having previously taken place in the first half of the season (April or May).
- F1 first visited Baku in 2016, when the race was known as the European Grand Prix. It has been known as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix every year since.
- The team has recorded three wins in Baku with three different drivers – Nico Rosberg (2016), Lewis Hamilton (2018), and Valtteri Bottas (2019).
- George has also triumphed in Baku, winning the F2 Sprint race in 2018.
- Third Driver Fred Vesti claimed his maiden F2 victory in Baku in the 2022 Sprint race.
- Kimi has also stood on the podium in Azerbaijan as he finished third in the F2 Feature race in 2024.
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