Today, the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which Baku will be hosting for the ninth time, will kick off, APA reports.
20 drivers from 10 teams will compete for the championship on a track that is 6 kilometers long.
On the Baku City Circuit, some of the world's most famous drivers – Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and others – will race.
The Baku track, considered one of the longest circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, has 20 turns. Starting from Azadliq Square, the track loops around the Government House, makes a 2.2-kilometer circle around Icherisheher to reach the Maiden Tower, and exits onto Neftchilar Avenue, ending where it began. The circuit consists of 51 laps, with its widest part measuring 13 meters and its narrowest sections—particularly around Icherisheher, including turns 7 and 8—measuring 7.6 meters. The track, which runs counterclockwise, was designed by renowned German architect Hermann Tilke.
During the race, drivers and millions of television viewers will witness a stunning view that includes Icherisheher, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the capital’s modern architectural landmarks, and the scenic Caspian Sea coastline.
The start and finish lines of the race will be located at Azadliq Square. Additionally, the “Paddock Club,” team garages, and the pit lane have been set up there.
On the first day of the event, free practice and qualifying sessions for Formula 1 and Formula 2 will take place. On September 20, Formula 1 free practice sessions and the Formula 2 sprint race will be held. Finally, on the last day — the 21st of the month — the main race will take place.
It should be noted that since 2016, Azerbaijan has been hosting the world's most prestigious motorsport event. The first Formula 1 race held in our country was named the European Grand Prix. In that race, German driver Nico Rosberg claimed victory. In the following years, Daniel Ricciardo (Australia), Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain), Valtteri Bottas (Finland), Sergio Perez (Mexico), Max Verstappen (Netherlands), and Oscar Piastri (Australia) each outpaced their rivals to reach the top step of the podium. Only in 2020 was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix not held due to the coronavirus pandemic.
