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The fourth round of the 2018 Formula One season comes to us in Azerbaijan and the beautiful city of Baku. For only the third time in its history, the city will play host to a Formula One race. 2016 saw a rather standard affair, while 2017 produced the race of the year, with a surprise podium, clashes and chaos all round, and a brilliant Daniel Ricciardo surge to victory.
This time, the championship lies squarely at the feet of Sebastian Vettel, with Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and even Ricciardo chomping at the bit to steal the lead in the world title race. If there's ever a time for a spanner in the works for the entire championship, Baku is the place.
Will we be saying "Well done Baku" once more, or will the championship proceed without much incident? After the jamboree that was the Chinese GP, we don't even know why we're trying to guess, but that isn't stopping us!
#1 Raikkonen on pole
The story of Kimi Raikkonen in 2018 has been rather unfortunate, as he has been putting in some stellar drives both in qualifying and in the race. Due to a combination of bad luck and Ferrari strategy, the Finn just hasn't been able to get the most out of his season, remaining 5th in the championship.
Just being pipped to pole by teammate Sebastian Vettel in China, the time seems ripe for the Iceman to get back on pole here in Baku. Vettel will be under pressure from Lewis Hamilton breathing down his neck, and with Baku being such a delicate track, it seems dangerous for the German to push his car to the max.
Raikkonen, however, will have nothing in his mind except to drive fast, having nothing to lose and everything to prove. The veteran is in prime position to throw his Ferrari around the street circuit with no regard for anything except pole position.
#2 The Force India rivalry
Last year, one of the major duels at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was between Force India teammates Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. It was a race that really could have gone to anyone, and if it wasn't for their coming together on the restart, both Force India cars could have found themselves in the top 5. However, in the end, Ocon was left with P6 and Perez had to retire after taking too much damage in their clash.
This year, the relationship between the two drivers seems filled with rivalry and aggression, once again. After almost coming together in China, and currently sitting 9th in the constructor's championship, the stage seems set for the Force India aggression to hit the ceiling in Baku.
While we hope to see tight racing at Baku this year, and I believe that the Force India's will get just a little too close and that their season won't start on the upswing in Azerbaijan.
#3 Vettel and Hamilton double DNF
While it is definitely unlikely that Vettel and Hamilton will come to blows after what happened at Baku last year, we believe that the race at the top of the championship will come to a temporary stop here in Baku. The circuit is so unforgiving, and the cars in 2018 are faster than ever. Being pushed to their limits by a pair of quadruple word champions, it just might occur that at one point or another both Vettel & Hamilton find themselves in the barriers.
Hamilton has just broken Kimi Raikkonen's record for longest string of points finishes that he must be due for an unfortunate performance sometime soon. Furthermore, Vettel will be frustrated after having his race ruined in China. Therefore, seeing him push a little too hard on the streets of Baku is a very possible reality this weekend.
Baku is a tight circuit with a margin of error such that even champion drivers can't be faulted for letting a mistake get the better of them. This year, both world title contenders will be on the edge as things have not been going their way since China, that it isn't out of the question for both of them to run into respective troubles (or walls.)
#4 Another first-time podium
A great drive from Lance Stroll last year saw the young Canadian take advantage of a chaotic race to score a first-time podium in Formula One. This time around, another chaotic race could open up the opportunity for a stealthy and clean driver to make their way to a surprise podium.
There are a fair few drivers that have been driving well enough to warrant a place on the podium in Baku. Drivers like Hulkenberg, Sainz, Vandoorne, Gasly and LeClerc have all been putting in great performances both this season, and over the course of their careers.
Any one of these drivers, as well as a number of others might well benefit from a crash in Baku, allowing them to pull a Stroll, and sneak onto the podium. Hulkenberg, especially, will be aiming to get a podium as the current record holder for most race starts without a podium, and the German has had a fairly great start to the season, currently sitting P7 in the Driver's standings.
Will he or someone else, manage to end up on a winning step on Sunday?
#5 Daniel Ricciardo goes Back to Back & Baku to Baku
Daniel Ricciardo is the man everyone is talking about in F1 right now, just as he was this time last year after the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He got an opportunistic win in China and did so with just as much flair as he did in Baku last year as well. He might very well be the bravest overtaker in F1.
Baku has all the ingredients to make it an eventful race this year, after a pair of great races in Bahrain and Shanghai. And when Daniel Ricciardo sees a race going haywire, he can taste that sweaty, salty 'shoey' champagne on the top step of the podium.
Baku is not a circuit renowned for overtaking, yet Ricciardo produced the overtake of the year last year. The Honey Badger is currently on fire, and by winning in Baku he'd go back to back in Grand Prixs and in Azerbaijan GP victories.
