F1 | GP Azerbaijan 2019: preview and weekend times

With the Azerbaijan GP, ​​the first tranche of non-European races ends. From the next race, there will be some important aerodynamic updates that could change the cards on the table in the 2019 world championship. Here is our preview of the Azerbaijani weekend!

Opening hours (exclusive live on Sky Sport F1 HD)

Friday April 26th
PL1: 11:00 – 12:30
PL2: 15:00 – 16:30

Saturday April 27th
PL3: 12:00 – 13:00
QP: 15pm – 00pm (delayed on TV16 starting from 00pm)

Sunday April 28
Race: 14pm (delayed on TV10 starting at 8pm)

Previous race

The Shanghai Grand Prix once again saw the domination of Mercedes who achieved their third double in a row. Lewis Hamilton wins the race, taking the lead in the world championship, followed by his teammate, Valtteri Bottas. Third position for Sebastian Vettel who thus obtained his first podium of the season after a rather colorless race. Ferrari tried to save what could be saved with a team order against Charles Leclerc (fifth at the finish line), which however did not prove useful, as the gap to the Silver Arrows was too large to close. We understood one thing from this grand prix: the young Monegasque has no intention of being number two within the team. Max Verstappen's Red Bull finished fourth fastest, ahead of Leclerc. Followed in the top 10: Gasly, Ricciardo, Perez, Raikkonen and a very good Alexander Albon who did not take part in qualifying due to an accident during FP3.

Circuit

Name: Baku City Circuit

Place: Baku, Azerbaijan

Construction: the Baku route was presented way back in 2014 by Bernie Ecclestone and the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan. Designed by the faithful architect Hermann Tilke, this circuit aims to quickly become a permanent fixture of the World Championship, unique in terms of characteristics and spectacularity. In length it is the second longest track on the calendar, behind Spa Francorchamps, and boasts a straight of 2,2 km, double the main straight of Monza, preceded by a sector with very fast corners, from which one exits already at very high speed. However, the first and second sectors are made up of eight sharp bends and a narrow roadway, a very dangerous and typical feature of city tracks. With the new single-seaters 20 cm wider, already in 2017 the challenge proved to be even more demanding, not only to navigate the thousand-year-old walls of the old city, but also to find the best possible set-up that guarantees speed and maximum load capacity .

Distance per lap: 6,003 km

Number of curves: 20, twelve on the left and eight on the right

Direction of travel: counterclockwise

Brakes:

Circuit characteristics

The most important point of the Baku circuit is certainly the long starting straight; 2,2 km which will put the Power Units to the test. On this track, mistakes are not allowed as it is quite narrow and this year it will be even more complicated for the drivers, given the larger dimensions of the single-seaters. Undoubtedly, the most evocative area of ​​the circuit is the one close to the fortifications, i.e. between turns 8 and 12. It will therefore be fundamental for the teams to find the right aerodynamic setup for the straight and subsequently for the guided sections of the track.

Technical data:

Tyres

This is the Pirelli set chosen for the Azerbaijan GP: C2, C3 and C4

https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status/1118067207228014592

An interesting fact is that the three top teams (Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull) have made different choices. Furthermore, it should be considered that the race will not have the same times as the tests and qualifications and that it will be held in colder temperatures.

RECORD

Test lap: 1:40.593 – L Hamilton – Mercedes – 2017
Race lap: 1:43.441 – S Vettel – Ferrari – 2017
Distance: 1h32'52″366
Driver victories: 1 – N Rosberg, D Ricciardo, L Hamilton
Team victories: 1 – Mercedes, Red Bull
Driver pole: 1 –N Rosberg, L Hamilton, S Vettel
Pole team: 2 – Mercedes
Best driver laps: 1 – N Rosberg, S Vettel
Best team laps: 1 – Mercedes, Ferrari
Driver podiums: 2 – D Ricciardo
Team podiums: 2 – Mercedes

Hall of Fame

1. 2016 N Rosberg – Mercedes
2. 2017 D Ricciardo – Red Bull Racing
3. 2018 L Hamilton – Mercedes