Azerbaijan Grand Prix Set to Resume F1 Action After Break

After a week off, Formula 1 is gearing up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Baku City Circuit, known for its exhilarating layout featuring some of the fastest and longest straights of the season, will present quite the challenge to the ten teams and twenty drivers. Notably, this track includes a technically impressive “castle” sector that runs through the quaint old town.

One driver, Pierre Gasly, is particularly eager to tackle this challenge. “We’re looking forward to getting back into the swing of things this weekend as we head to Baku for the next flyaway race,” he mentioned in a media preview. He has fond memories of the circuit, having enjoyed past successes with a podium finish in 2021 and another podium in GP2 back in 2016. “I’ve always found that driving smart and clean is essential on demanding tracks like Baku,” he added.

Gasly, who has collected all the points for Alpine this year, acknowledged that “anything could happen” in Azerbaijan. He emphasized the necessity of being in a good position to capitalize on unexpected opportunities. “Car setups will be a tricky balance, considering the track’s unique characteristics. We hope to hit the ground running on Friday, but really, anything could come into play,” he said.

Meanwhile, Franco Korapinto is under pressure to secure his spot while hoping for his first points of the season. He’s returning to a venue where he scored his inaugural points in Formula 1 last year. “We’re all set to head back to Baku, where I had my first points finish last season. I feel more confident this time, even though Monza posed challenges for us as a team,” Korapinto noted. “We spent some time refining our approach, and last week’s visit to Enstone was all about gearing up for the Azerbaijan race. Baku is truly one of the most stunning circuits on the calendar. The tightness of the track, along with the old town and the iconic fire tower, really makes it special.”

He reminisced, saying, “Last year holds some happy memories for me; finishing eighth in my first F1 points was no small feat. It’s tough out there, but we’re aiming to do our best, maximizing our results this weekend as we tackle the flyaway part of the season.”

With two practice sessions scheduled for Friday, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is about to kick off, leading into the crucial qualifying rounds on Saturday.