Baku Unleashed: The Wild, Winding, and Utterly Unpredictable History of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
If Formula 1 is a sport built on precision, then the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is its annual exercise in glorious chaos. Since its debut in 2016, the Baku City Circuit has delivered more drama per kilometer than most tracks manage in a decade. Forget the sterile predictability of some modern venues—Baku is where reputations are made, titles are lost, and the racing gods seem to roll dice with the outcome. As we approach the 2025 edition, let’s take a walk through the most memorable moments, the heartbreaks, and the outright absurdities that have defined this race. Buckle up. In Baku, the only thing you can expect is the unexpected.
- The City of Walls and Wrecks
- 2017: Ricciardo’s Resurrection and the Vettel-Hamilton Fiasco
- 2018: Red Bull’s Civil War and Bottas’ Bitter Luck
- 2019: Leclerc’s “Stupid” Mistake and Bottas’ Redemption
- 2021: Tyre Explosions and the “Brake Magic” Blunder
- 2022: Porpoising Pain and Verstappen’s Triumph
- 2023: Perez’s Street Circuit Supremacy
- 2024: Piastri’s Breakthrough Amidst Late-Race Chaos
- The Numbers Game: Baku by the Stats
- Baku’s Signature: Unpredictability and Opportunity
- Waste a bit more time
The City of Walls and Wrecks
Baku’s circuit is a contradiction in tarmac: a 6.003 km street track that combines Monaco’s medieval claustrophobia with Monza’s slipstreaming madness. The cars scream past 12th-century walls, thread a needle through the infamous “castle section,” and then blast down a two-kilometer straight where top speeds nudge 350 km/h. It’s a place where the bravest thrive—and the careless are punished with carbon fiber confetti.
The inaugural 2016 race, then called the European Grand Prix, was a relatively tame affair. Nico Rosberg led from pole to flag, barely breaking a sweat. But Baku was just getting warmed up.
2017: Ricciardo’s Resurrection and the Vettel-Hamilton Fiasco
If you want to understand Baku’s reputation, start with 2017. Daniel Ricciardo, starting 10th, somehow emerged from the carnage to win—thanks to a triple overtake that would make even Senna blush. But the real fireworks came courtesy of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Under the Safety Car, Vettel accused Hamilton of “brake-testing” him, then pulled alongside and deliberately banged wheels in a fit of rage.
Vettel literally drove into me. That’s not racing, that’s dangerous driving.
Lewis Hamilton
The stewards handed out penalties, but the incident dominated headlines for weeks. Meanwhile, rookie Lance Stroll finished third, becoming the youngest rookie to stand on an F1 podium at the time. If you missed it, relive the madness here: Top 5 Dramatic Moments | Azerbaijan Grand Prix – YouTube
2018: Red Bull’s Civil War and Bottas’ Bitter Luck
If 2017 was wild, 2018 was a demolition derby. The Red Bull duo of Ricciardo and Verstappen spent the afternoon fighting like siblings in the back seat—until they finally collided on the main straight, taking each other out and earning a stern rebuke from the team.
We let them race, but this was unacceptable. Both drivers are to blame.
Christian Horner
As the dust settled, Valtteri Bottas looked set for victory—until he ran over debris and suffered a puncture with just a few laps to go. Lewis Hamilton inherited the win, while Romain Grosjean managed to crash behind the Safety Car, blaming a “phantom” car for his misfortune. You can’t make this stuff up.
2019: Leclerc’s “Stupid” Mistake and Bottas’ Redemption
Charles Leclerc was the star of qualifying—until he wasn’t. A heavy crash in Q2 led to his now-famous radio outburst: “I am stupid.” Bottas took pole and the win, with Hamilton and Vettel rounding out a more subdued podium. But even in a quieter year, Baku found a way to humble the mighty.
2021: Tyre Explosions and the “Brake Magic” Blunder
The 2021 race was a masterclass in unpredictability. Max Verstappen was cruising to victory when a tyre failure sent him into the wall at over 300 km/h. The red flag came out, setting up a two-lap sprint to the finish. Hamilton, poised to retake the championship lead, accidentally hit the “brake magic” button on his steering wheel at the restart, locking up and running straight on at Turn 1.
I’m so sorry, guys. That’s on me.
Lewis Hamilton
Sergio Perez took the win, with Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) completing a podium nobody predicted. For a taste of the drama, watch: WATCH: 5 dramatic moments from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – F1.
2022: Porpoising Pain and Verstappen’s Triumph
2022 was the year of the bouncing Mercedes. The W13’s porpoising reached its peak in Baku, with Lewis Hamilton visibly struggling to climb out of his car after the race. Max Verstappen took a dominant win, but the headlines were all about driver safety and the physical toll of the new regulations.
2023: Perez’s Street Circuit Supremacy
Sergio Perez cemented his reputation as the “King of the Streets” with a masterful drive, outfoxing Verstappen and Leclerc. It was his second win in Baku, making him the first repeat winner at the circuit. Leclerc took pole, but Ferrari’s strategy woes continued.
Baku is always special. You never know what’s going to happen until the last lap.
Sergio Perez
2024: Piastri’s Breakthrough Amidst Late-Race Chaos
Last year, Oscar Piastri claimed his maiden Baku victory after a dramatic late-race incident involving Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc and George Russell completed the podium, but the real story was Piastri’s composure under pressure—a sign that the next generation is ready to write its own Baku legends.
The Numbers Game: Baku by the Stats
Let’s take a look at the cold, hard numbers—because even in Baku, the stats tell a story of unpredictability.
| Year | Winner | Pole Sitter | Podium Finishers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Nico Rosberg | Nico Rosberg | Rosberg, Vettel, Perez |
| 2017 | Daniel Ricciardo | Lewis Hamilton | Ricciardo, Bottas, Stroll |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton | Sebastian Vettel | Hamilton, Räikkönen, Perez |
| 2019 | Valtteri Bottas | Valtteri Bottas | Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel |
| 2021 | Sergio Perez | Charles Leclerc | Perez, Vettel, Gasly |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Charles Leclerc | Verstappen, Perez, Russell |
| 2023 | Sergio Perez | Charles Leclerc | Perez, Verstappen, Leclerc |
| 2024 | Oscar Piastri | Charles Leclerc | Piastri, Leclerc, Russell |
And for the trivia buffs: the fastest lap ever recorded at Baku is 1:43.009, set by Charles Leclerc in 2019.
Baku’s Signature: Unpredictability and Opportunity
What makes Baku unique isn’t just the crashes or the controversies—it’s the sense that anything can happen. The circuit’s layout rewards risk-takers and punishes the complacent. It’s a place where rookies can shine (just ask Lance Stroll), where champions can falter (Hamilton’s “brake magic” moment), and where the script is always up for revision.
As the 2025 race approaches, McLaren stands on the brink of clinching the Constructors’ Championship with seven rounds to spare—a feat that would have seemed unthinkable in the days of Mercedes dominance. But if Baku has taught us anything, it’s that the only certainty is uncertainty.
Waste a bit more time
If you’re hungry for more Baku madness, here’s your menu:
- WATCH: 5 dramatic moments from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – F1
- Top 5 Dramatic Moments | Azerbaijan Grand Prix – YouTube
- Five Great Battles at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – YouTube
- All the highlighted events of recent years during the Azerbaijan …
- Facts & History – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – F1Destinations.com
- Exploring the Azerbaijan Grand Prix: full history and essential facts
- The 5 most shocking Azerbaijan Grand Prix moments – Goodwood
