Baku City: The 2025 Formula 1 season reaches its 17th round with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the streets of Baku scheduled for Sunday, September 21. The Baku City Circuit is a unique street track known for its dramatic blend of long, high-speed straights and intricate, narrow corners weaving through the historic heart of the city. At 6.003 kilometres per lap, it is one of the longer circuits on the calendar, offering teams and drivers a challenging mix of technical sections and outright speed.

Baku’s most notable feature is its 2.2-kilometre straight along the Caspian Sea coastline, where cars reach speeds close to 350 km/h. It provides a prime overtaking zone with DRS activation, while the twisting castle section—comprising Turns 8 through 10—narrows to just 7.6 meters wide, demanding absolute precision to avoid costly mistakes. The fast, blind Turn 15 also tests drivers’ skills and bravery, as it leads into the final part of the lap.

Free Practice Sessions — Fast Laps and Setback

The Free Practice sessions on Friday and Saturday gave early indications of team performance. Ferrari impressed with a 1-2 in FP2, highlighted by Lewis Hamilton’s strong lap times. McLaren’s Lando Norris suffered setbacks by clipping the barriers in practice, creating some concern ahead of the weekend. However, he rebounded in FP3, setting the fastest time ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, sharpening expectations for a closely contested qualifying session.

Qualifying Drama — Multiple Red Flags and Crashes

Saturday’s qualifying session turned out to be one for the history books with a record six red flags causing prolonged interruptions over nearly two hours. Early in Q1, Alpine driver Franco Colapinto crashed heavily into the barriers, bringing out the first of the many stoppages. Several drivers struggled to adapt to tricky track conditions, including variable grip and swirling crosswinds affecting braking zones with Turn 1 especially catching drivers out. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, a championship leader, suffered a late Q3 crash, thwarting his chance for pole position. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was also eliminated early due to a crash, adding to the drama. Ultimately, Max Verstappen secured pole after a flawless final lap, edging out Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson on the front row. Norris qualified seventh, with Piastri starting ninth.

Race Day Outlook — Strategy, Weather, and Key Factors

The race promises intense battles as drivers joust for position on the notoriously narrow street circuit. Turn 1 will likely be a critical overtaking hotspot, while the long straights offer high-speed slipstreaming opportunities. The tight walls and limited run-off make safety cars a distinct possibility, requiring teams to be agile with strategy. The weather forecast predicts dry and sunny conditions with moderate winds, ideal for a full race distance at a consistent pace.

Broadcasters worldwide will show the race live starting at 05:30 PM IST on Sunday. Fans can expect a thrilling mix of strategic tyre management, overtaking manoeuvres, and high-stakes drama typical of this street grand prix.