History of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku

The History of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – 10 Years of Drama in Baku

Formula 1 returns to the streets of Baku today for a landmark occasion: the 10th Formula 1 Grand Prix held at the Baku City Circuit.

Few could have predicted just how much drama the Azerbaijan capital would produce when Formula 1 first arrived here in 2016.

The combination of incredibly high speeds, unforgiving barriers, the narrow streets surrounding Baku’s historic Old City and one of the longest full-throttle sections in Formula 1 has created a race where almost anything can happen.

In less than a decade of racing, Baku has produced surprise winners, spectacular crashes, controversial collisions, unexpected podium finishes and championship-changing moments.

Before the lights go out for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, we’re looking back at how Baku became one of Formula 1’s most unpredictable destinations.

2016 – Formula 1 Arrives in Baku

The story began on 19 June 2016, although the first Formula 1 race held on the Baku City Circuit wasn’t actually called the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Instead, it was staged as the European Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg started from pole position and dominated the race, leading every lap on his way to victory.

Rosberg would go on to win the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship before unexpectedly retiring from the sport at the end of the season.

The inaugural race itself proved relatively calm compared with what was to follow.

From 2017 onwards, the event became known as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – and Baku quickly began building its reputation for unpredictability.

2017 – The Race That Changed Baku’s Reputation

If 2016 introduced Formula 1 to Baku, the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix showed everyone exactly what this unusual street circuit could deliver.

It remains one of the most memorable races in Baku’s history.

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were fighting for the World Championship when tensions exploded behind the Safety Car.

Vettel ran into the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes as the field prepared for a restart. Believing Hamilton had deliberately slowed in front of him, Vettel pulled alongside the Mercedes and made further contact.

The stewards handed Vettel a stop-and-go penalty.

Hamilton’s own hopes of victory were subsequently damaged when he was forced to pit because of a loose headrest.

Suddenly, the race was wide open.

Daniel Ricciardo Produces a Remarkable Baku Victory

The driver who benefited most from the chaos was Daniel Ricciardo.

The Red Bull driver had started only 10th on the grid and was forced into an early pit stop after debris affected his brakes.

Yet as other drivers encountered problems, Ricciardo worked his way back into contention.

His charge included one of the most memorable overtaking moves ever seen in Baku as he swept past multiple cars approaching Turn 1.

By the chequered flag, Ricciardo had completed an extraordinary recovery to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas finished second, dramatically beating Lance Stroll to the line, while the young Williams driver still secured an outstanding third place.

Baku had delivered its first chaotic classic.

And it wouldn’t be the last.

2018 – Red Bull Teammates Collide

The following season produced another race packed with drama.

This time, two Red Bull teammates were at the centre of it.

Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo spent much of the race fighting each other for position.

The battle was intense, with the pair swapping places and racing extremely closely on several occasions.

Eventually it went too far.

Ricciardo attempted to pass Verstappen approaching Turn 1 but ran into the back of his teammate’s car.

Both Red Bulls were eliminated.

The incident brought out the Safety Car and dramatically changed the race.

Heartbreak for Valtteri Bottas

The 2018 race still wasn’t finished with the drama.

Valtteri Bottas appeared to be heading towards victory for Mercedes following the late Safety Car restart.

With only a handful of laps remaining, victory seemed to be his.

Then disaster struck.

Bottas ran over debris on the start-finish straight and suffered a sudden tyre failure.

His race was over.

Lewis Hamilton inherited the lead and went on to win ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Sergio Pérez.

Once again, Baku had demonstrated why nothing should be taken for granted until the chequered flag.

2019 – Leclerc Meets the Castle

Perhaps no section of the Baku City Circuit demonstrates the challenge of racing here better than the narrow sequence beside the walls of Baku’s Old City.

At its narrowest point around Turns 8 and 9, the circuit measures just 7.6 metres wide.

In qualifying for the 2019 race, Charles Leclerc discovered just how unforgiving it could be.

The Ferrari driver crashed into the barriers at Turn 8, ending what had looked like a promising qualifying session.

The incident produced one of Leclerc’s most memorable radio messages as he immediately blamed himself for the mistake.

Valtteri Bottas eventually won the race ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

2020 – The Year Baku Went Quiet

There was no Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2020 as the Formula 1 calendar was heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Formula 1 returned to Baku the following season.

And the circuit seemed determined to make up for lost time.

2021 – Verstappen’s Tyre Failure and Hamilton’s Restart Disaster

The closing stages of the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix provided another extraordinary chapter in Baku’s history.

Max Verstappen was leading the race when his left-rear tyre failed at high speed on the main straight with only a few laps remaining.

The Red Bull crashed heavily, bringing out the red flag.

A standing restart was subsequently organised for the remaining laps.

With Verstappen out of the race, Lewis Hamilton suddenly had an opportunity to take a significant haul of championship points.

Hamilton made an excellent start alongside Sergio Pérez and appeared to have the advantage approaching Turn 1.

But then he went straight on.

Hamilton had accidentally activated a brake setting that dramatically altered the car’s braking behaviour.

Instead of potentially winning the race, he dropped to the back.

Sergio Pérez took victory for Red Bull ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly.

Neither Verstappen nor Hamilton scored a point.

It was classic Baku.

2022 – Verstappen Finally Wins in Azerbaijan

Max Verstappen returned to Baku in 2022 determined to put the disappointment of the previous year behind him.

Ferrari initially looked strong, but both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz retired with mechanical problems.

That left Red Bull in control.

Verstappen took his first victory at the Baku City Circuit, with teammate Sergio Pérez finishing second.

It was Red Bull’s first one-two finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

2023 – Sergio Pérez Becomes Baku’s Specialist

If one driver has developed a particularly strong association with Baku, it is Sergio Pérez.

The Mexican had already finished on the podium here for Force India and won the 2021 race.

In 2023, he did it again.

The weekend was also significant because Azerbaijan became the first Grand Prix to use Formula 1’s revised Sprint format.

Pérez won the Sprint and followed that by winning Sunday’s Grand Prix.

His second Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory made him the first driver to win the race twice.

His ability to perform on street circuits had already been well established, but his results in Azerbaijan strengthened his particular connection with Baku.

2024 – Piastri Versus Leclerc

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix produced a very different kind of drama.

Instead of relying primarily on crashes and Safety Cars, the battle at the front developed into a tense fight between Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.

Piastri made an aggressive move on Leclerc for the lead and then had to withstand sustained pressure from the Ferrari driver.

The McLaren driver held his nerve and eventually claimed victory.

There was still time for some traditional Baku chaos behind them.

Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz were fighting near the front when the pair collided late in the race, sending both cars into the barriers and ending their afternoon.

Piastri’s victory became another memorable chapter in the circuit’s history.

2025 – Six Red Flags in Qualifying

By 2025, everyone knew how little margin for error Baku provides.

Qualifying demonstrated it spectacularly.

The session was interrupted by an incredible six red flags, setting a Formula 1 record for the number of red-flag stoppages during a qualifying session.

Alex Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri were all involved in incidents that triggered stoppages.

The following day, Max Verstappen controlled the race from the front to take victory.

George Russell finished second, while Carlos Sainz claimed third place – securing his first podium for Williams.

It meant Baku entered its tenth anniversary year with yet another remarkable weekend added to its history.

What Makes the Baku City Circuit So Unpredictable?

The answer lies partly in the unusual nature of the circuit itself.

The Baku City Circuit is 6.003 kilometres long, with drivers completing 51 laps and a total race distance of just over 306 kilometres.

But those figures don’t really explain what makes it special.

Baku combines two completely different styles of circuit.

One moment the cars are threading through an incredibly narrow section beside the medieval Old City walls.

A few moments later, they are accelerating onto an enormous high-speed section running alongside Baku’s waterfront.

The long run towards Turn 1 creates opportunities for slipstreaming and overtaking, while the tight street sections punish even small mistakes.

Drivers therefore need a car capable of delivering both straight-line speed and confidence through slow, technical corners.

Then there are the walls.

Unlike a conventional circuit with generous run-off areas, mistakes in Baku frequently have immediate consequences.

That combination helps explain why Safety Cars, red flags and unexpected results have become such a familiar part of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

2026 – Baku’s 10th Formula 1 Grand Prix

And now we arrive at 2026.

This weekend marks the tenth Formula 1 Grand Prix held around the streets of Baku.

There is also something particularly unusual about this year’s race.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on Saturday 26 September rather than Sunday, with the schedule moved forward by a day because Sunday 27 September is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day.

And qualifying has already provided another Baku talking point.

George Russell will start the race from pole position after producing a stunning 1:42.526 lap.

Charles Leclerc joins him on the front row, with Oscar Piastri third and Isack Hadjar fourth.

Lando Norris starts fifth, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen.

But one of the biggest stories is championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli crashed at Turn 1 during Q1 and starts down in 16th position.

It sets up a fascinating race.

Russell has clear air ahead of him, Leclerc and Piastri are immediately behind, Verstappen has work to do from eighth and Antonelli faces a major recovery drive from deep in the field.

If history tells us anything, however, predicting what will happen next in Baku is dangerous.

What Will Baku Deliver Next?

Over the past decade, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has evolved from a new and relatively unknown addition to the Formula 1 calendar into one of its most distinctive races.

We’ve seen teammates collide.

We’ve seen race leaders crash out within sight of victory.

We’ve seen championship contenders make costly mistakes.

We’ve seen drivers win from unexpected positions and midfield teams celebrate surprise podiums.

And we’ve seen some extraordinary overtaking on one of Formula 1’s fastest street circuits.

That unpredictability is now part of Baku’s identity.

The city provides a spectacular setting, but it’s the racing that has turned the Azerbaijan Grand Prix into such a fascinating Formula 1 weekend.

Ten Grands Prix after Formula 1 first arrived in Azerbaijan, another chapter is about to begin.

With George Russell on pole, several teams in contention near the front and the championship leader starting 16th, the ingredients are already there.

The only question is whether Baku has one more surprise waiting for us.

FAQ

When did Formula 1 first race in Baku?

Formula 1 first raced at the Baku City Circuit in 2016. The inaugural event was called the European Grand Prix before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 2017.

How long is the Baku City Circuit?

The Baku City Circuit is 6.003 kilometres long. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is held over 51 laps, covering a race distance of approximately 306 kilometres.

Who has won the most Azerbaijan Grands Prix?

Heading into the 2026 race, Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen have each won twice in Azerbaijan. Pérez won in 2021 and 2023, while Verstappen won in 2022 and 2025.

Why is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix held on Saturday in 2026?

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on Saturday 26 September because Sunday 27 September is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. The entire Formula 1 weekend schedule was moved forward by one day.

Who is on pole for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

George Russell starts the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole after setting a 1:42.526 in qualifying. Charles Leclerc starts second and Oscar Piastri third.

Why is Baku famous in Formula 1?

Baku has developed a reputation for unpredictable races. Its unusual combination of narrow street sections, high speeds, close barriers and an extremely long flat-out section has contributed to dramatic crashes, overtaking and unexpected race results.