5 Reasons why Baku's contract extension is good for F1

The 2018 Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix was a thriller
The 2018 Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix was a thriller

It was announced that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2023. The controversial Baku Street Circuit has been a part of the Formula 1 season since 2016, first as the European GP, and then the Azerbaijan race from 2017.

The Street Circuit is located in the centre of the Azeri capital and has attracted criticism because of its Turns 8-11 "Castle" section, which is deemed as too tight for modern F1 cars. There have been a lot to complaints, not least after the boring 2016 race, but the last two years have provided thrillers.

Some would like to see the Azerbaijani race removed from the motorsport calendar, but here are five reasons why this extension is good news for the pinnacle of motorsport.


#1 It's an unpredictable Grand Prix

Sergio Perez is the only man who has stood on the Baku podium twice.
Sergio Perez is the only man who has stood on the Baku podium twice.

It's a fascinating factoid that Force India's Sergio Perez is the only Formula 1 driver to has finished in the top 3 twice during the event's brief history. That means that Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo etc... haven't achieved this feat in the three years the Grand Prix circus has been visiting.

This is despite the Mexican not driving for a top team, and he was the only man who didn't drive for Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull to finish on the podium in 2018. That was in Azerbaijan, a late puncture for Valtteri Bottas and a mistake for Vettel handing the now-Racing Point driver third place.

Other eye-catching moments have been Vettel and Hamilton's clash, Lance Stroll's podium, Ricciardo's epic triple overtake in 2017, Hamilton's first win of the season and Romain Grosjean's embarrassing crash, both in 2018.

#2 There are worse tracks on the calendar

Nobody can dispute that Sochi is worse than Baku
Nobody can dispute that Sochi is worse than Baku

It sounds like a backhanded compliment, but it's relevant to this opinion. In my opinion, a real case could be used to make for Sochi, the Circuit of the Americas, Circuit Paul Ricard, Barcelona & Yas Marina are all worse additions to the calendar than Baku.

The main reasoning behind this is because of the same reason as in the previous slide, the unpredictability. If there's one thing sports fans love, it's a surprise, that's why football fans were captivated by Leicester City's 2015/16 Premier League victory.

Formula 1 tracks should be earned in a meritocracy, the better & more entertaining tracks should be on the roster instead of ones that are less so. Does that mean that Baku is in the top 21? (The number of races in 2019). Absolutely, and with circuits like Hanoi's Street Circuit being added to the calendar in the future, there are less deserving ones of a Grand Prix hosting a race.

#3 The weather makes it a real challenge

The Red Bulls' clash was arguably caused - in part - by the cold conditions in April
The Red Bulls' clash was arguably caused - in part - by the cold conditions in April

In 2016 and 2017, the Baku race was held after Canada in the Summertime, and both events were run in July, a hot month in Azerbaijan. In the Spring, it's much more temperate and based in 2018, one could even say cold.

Last year (and this year, 2019) it was the fourth round of the year, which caused all sorts of problems. Pirelli chose softer tyres in an effort to open up more strategy options, from an increase in pit-stops, but that wasn't enough to heat the tyres in the cold conditions.

Not too dissimilarly to running on ice or water, the low-grip road surface made the cars more unpredictable, and therefore harder to drive, just ask Grosjean and Pierre Gasly. Formula 1 should be a challenge, more than anything else, and making circuits more accident-prone like this is one way to improve the show.

#4 Restarts are always eventful

Daniel Ricciardo's race-winning triple overtake sealed his only win in Baku
Daniel Ricciardo's race-winning triple overtake sealed his only win in Baku

Spa-Francorchamps' run from La Source to the Les Combes chicane used to be the longest full-throttle stretch in Formula 1 racing before Baku's addition to the calendar in 2016.

The mammoth stretch from Turn 16 to Turn 1 is the longest in terms of acceleration and it comprises the entire third sector and a small section of the first. This means that the slipstream is extremely effective and differences in engine performance are multiplied, increasing overtakes after a Safety Car restart.

Just ask Daniel Ricciardo, he overtook Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll in one manoeuvre in 2017, which effectively set him on his way to a victory that day. Whatsmore, the Red Bull was powered by a Renault engine, one that was underpowered compared to the Williams-Mercedes vehicles. It is still difficult to overtake, but far from impossible like some circuits (Monaco or Singapore).

#5 It's in a beautiful country

The man-made backdrops in Baku aren't bad either
The man-made backdrops in Baku aren't bad either

Azerbaijan's natural landscapes are captivating. What makes the allure of Grands Prix so intoxicating for me is the stunning backdrops you get to those aerial shots from the Formula 1 helicopter.

Of course, you can always see the trees through the forest, but the land of fire (as its tourism board call their native country) has a lot to offer visually. The Caucasus Mountains, cascading valleys and the inevitable volcanoes all make it very easy on the eye, even in the brightest of sunshine. It's an experience you'll remember. You could even witness Formula 1 history being made, like the Red Bull's crash last year or Bottas' photo finish with Stroll in 2017.

Do you think Azerbaijan is a good race on the F1 calendar? let us know in the comments below!

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.