F1: Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Live race updates | Formula 1

Important events

The introductory round is almost at the door.

It is quite windy in the city of wind, but it’s unclear which way the wind is coming from. More news as soon as I have it!

Do we think Leclerc has what it takes to win here? The Ferrari seems to be in good condition, but Piastri reckons he has a chance of beating it at the start.

Oliver Bearman looks happy and why shouldn’t it be? At 19, not only is he racing at this level, but he also overtook his teammate Nico Hülkenberg in qualifying. He will feel invincible and like the world is his; good for him.

Time for an anthem!

Today it is beautiful and sunny in Baku – and warm too. The tension is rising as the cars gather at the start.

Another possible factor: in the last four races at this track we have seen either a safety car or a virtual safety car. I dare say that the boy Nozza would accept that today.

We must not forget that there are drivers who are subject to team instructions today. Piastri has been instructed to do everything he can in his McLaren to disrupt Verstappen, while Pérez must let his teammate pass, assuming George Russell is overtaken first.

Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, will view the overtaking situation extremely calmly. However, he also knows that he has been on pole four times in a row in this race and has not yet been able to convert any of them into a win.

The problem for the drivers – and Norris in particular – is that overtaking is not easy on the Baku City Circuit. He assumes that strategy will play an important role, but he also knows that his car is fast enough to cause damage if he manages to get a clear run at some point.

The grid

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari)
Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Franco Colapinto (Williams)
Alex Albon (Williams)
Oliver Bearman (Haas)
Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
Lando Norris (McLaren)
Valtteri Bottas (F1)
Zhou Guanyu (mission F1)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

Pit lane: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Pit lane: Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

preamble

Let’s start with a question: who would not have expected six months ago, when the season started in Bahrain in early March, that we would be where we are now in mid-September?

The answer, of course, is absolutely everyone. And as if to prove it – that the sport that felt like the most predictable in the world is now one of the least predictable – an alert pops up on my phone informing me that Lewis Hamilton will start today’s race from the pit lane after a new engine. Oops!

But unfortunately for the near-winner, that’s just a side story – at best. The main event is, of course, the race for the drivers’ championship, and we still don’t know how that might turn out. Max Verstappen, champion in each of the last three seasons, is struggling – or at least his car is. Although he leads the standings by 62 points, he’s vulnerable with eight races to go… if one of his pursuers can find the consistency needed to take advantage of the wear and tear on his car.

Easier said than done: Lando Norris, the closest challenger, had a nightmare qualifying session and started from 15th place. So even though Verstappen is only sixth, he now has a great chance to extend his lead at the top while ticking off another race. We’ll see!

Lights out: 3pm local time, 12pm BST

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