The stage for the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set, top billing is the battle for the top step of the podium between Ferrari and Red Bull.
In what is becoming a familiar story this year, Mr.Qualifying – Charles Leclerc – popped the Ferrari top of the qualifying timing screens with a stellar Q3 lap, his best effort a quarter-second better than anyone else.
But we have seen too often how the Reds can turn a sure win into humiliation and will be seeking to make amends for the Barcelona and Monaco stumbles with a victory this afternoon at the below-sea-level Baku City Circuit.
But that’s easier said than done because on row one, and again best of the Red Bulls, Sergio Perez is finding the finest form of his career, fresh from a significant victory last Sunday in Monte-Carlo, at the venue where he won his first Formula 1 race last year.
His ability to nurse tyres, and be there when it matters plus the fact he is now a Title contender, makes the Mexican veteran a favourite for P1 today.
And of course, when in doubt bet on Max Verstappen. The World Champion lacked the edge he tends to have, and last weekend at Monaco was AWOL. Ditto Friday and Saturday in Baku. But today could be a very different story depending on which Max turns up for the race, the Maximum-Attack-Guy or the Think-Championship-Guy.
Then, of course, there is Carlos Sainz, the outsider, long overdue a win but right now his own worst enemy. It was classic Sainz v Leclerc on Saturday during qualifying. The Spaniard running the Monaco Kid close up to Q2, then when the big guns are needed, plus that extra dollop of talent and Charles delivers, Carlos makes mistakes.
But his day must come surely, and the uncertainty of Baku may play into his hands as he is a smart thinker when it comes to strategy, and today’s race will probably be all about constantly shifting strategies, in what can be expected to be a dynamic race, as incidents are likely as are safety cars.
Provided of course he does not cause them…
Whatever the case, it’s going to be an intriguing afternoon if the thriller qualifying we had yesterday is anything to go by.
Best of the Rest are the moaning Mercs, their cars dolphining viciously had team boss Toto Wolff all but throwing in the towel until Lewis Hamilton spin-doctored the depression by stating that in this race anything can happen.
He knows well, he might have lost the 2021 Title when the “buttons were messed up” at the final restart of last year’s race in Baku when he went straight but the track turned sharp left…
However, right now, George Russell is the boss at Merc on sheer performance and results, again from fifth he starts directly ahead of Hamilton who will line-up seventh on the grid. George targeting an eighth consecutive top five finish; Lewis? Wondering how to beat his teammate.
Spoiler Alert! The AlphaTauris are looking really good, Pierre Gasly is in fine form and Yuki Tsunoda not far off the Frenchman’s pace, the Japanese driver emerging as the most improved driver of this season. The uncertainty of Baku could provide a springboard for a surprise, and if the pair can stay out of trouble, it could be a good day for the little Bulls.
Worth noting: four out of four Red Bull PU-powered cars in the top eight. Impressive. Mercedes has three cars in the top ten on the grid out of eight. Not impressive.
Also worth watching behind the big boys during today’s Baku race:
- What can Seb do from ninth on the grid? He was second here last year but can he get that Aston Martin to turn this year?
- And Fernando from 10th? This Guy!
- What’s happened to McLaren? Are they in Baku?
- Who will bring out the first safety car? Nicky, Schumi or Lancelot? Be safe boys.
Today’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix Race Report will replace this preview immediately after the race. Please refresh this page. Thank You and Enjoy the race.
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Facts & Stats by Reuters
- Baku City Circuit
- Round 8 of the 22-race 2022 Formula 1 World Championship
- Lap distance: 6.003km. Total distance: 306.049km (51 laps)
- 2021 pole position: Charles Leclerc (Monaco) Ferrari one minute 41.218 seconds.
- 2021 race winner: Sergio Perez (Mexico) Red Bull
- Race lap record: Leclerc, Ferrari, one minute 43.009 seconds, 2019.
- Start time: 1100GMT (1500 local)
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- The street circuit made its debut in 2016 as the European Grand Prix. The name changed in 2017, when the race was held in June.
- There was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19.
- Baku has yet to see a repeat winner in five races and Mercedes and Red Bull are the only teams to have won.
- Nobody has taken fastest lap or pole position more than once either.
- Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Perez are the only current drivers to have won there, with retired 2016 champion Nico Rosberg taking the inaugural victory for Mercedes.
- Two of the races have been won from pole (Rosberg and Bottas) and three from the front row.
- Ricciardo won for Red Bull from 10th on the grid in 2017 and Perez from sixth last year.
- Mercedes have taken three of five poles, with Ferrari the other two.
- The safety car has been deployed in three of five races.
- Perez also took third place for Force India in 2016 and 2018.
- Sebastian Vettel, now at Aston Martin, is the most successful driver in Baku in terms of points scored with two-second places, a third and a fourth.
- The circuit is 28 metres below sea level.
Race Victories
- Red Bull have won five of seven races this season. Verstappen has won four and team mate Perez one. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has won the other two.
- Hamilton has a record 103 wins from 295 starts. He has yet to win this year, and his most recent success was in Saudi Arabia last December.
- Ferrari have won 240 races since 1950, McLaren 183, Mercedes 124, Williams 115 and Red Bull 80.
Pole Position
- Leclerc has been on pole five times this year, with Perez and Verstappen taking the other two.
- Hamilton has a record 103 career poles, most recently qualifying fastest in Saudi Arabia last year.
Fastest Lap
- Leclerc took the fastest lap bonus point in the first three races, Verstappen in Imola and Miami, Perez in Spain and McLaren’s Lando Norris in Monaco.
2022 F1 World Championship Points
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- Verstappen leads Leclerc by nine points with Perez a further six behind.
- Red Bull lead Ferrari by 36 points in the constructors’ standings.
- Mercedes’ George Russell is the only driver to have scored points in every race this year. The Briton has finished all in the top five.
