The 17th of 24 rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place this weekend.

It can be regarded as the final European race of the season, even if the country sits on the divide between Europe and Asia and has a very different atmosphere to the other races on the Old Continent.

The Baku City Circuit is certainly unusual: the 6.003 kilometre-long street track includes long straights and wide corners as well as tight and twisty sections that run between the ancient buildings of the old city. The final section, over two kilometres long is taken flat-out and is usually the scene of the key moments in the race, while the section around the historic citadel is so narrow that in parts it is only wide enough for just one car.

Baku requires a difficult compromise, as a car must have sufficient aerodynamic downforce to power out of the slow corners in the first and second sectors, but must not be vulnerable to attack through the long and very quick final sector. All year, the track surface has to contend with daily Baku traffic and therefore offers less grip than permanent race circuits and this can lead to tyre graining. There are two DRS zones, one early on after turn 2 and the second on the main straight. The Safety Car is no stranger to this event, having put in ten appearances over the eight Formula 1 races held here to date, completing 45 laps out of a total of 459, in other words 9.8% of all laps from 2016 onwards.

Pirelli has chosen the three softest tyres in its range for this event, the C4 as Hard, C5 as Medium and C6 as Soft. Generally, Baku has always been a one-stop race with the majority starting on the Medium before switching to the Hard, this proving to be the most effective strategy. However, it is not beyond the realms of probability to see the Soft come into play for a short stint in the event of a Safety Car appearance in the later stages of the Grand Prix. The weather has not usually been a significant factor in Baku, even if gusts of wind can make life difficult on track for the drivers.

Fred Vasseur: Baku is always an interesting weekend, with its combination of long straights and a very technical middle sector. It tends to produce unpredictable races and opportunities, so it is important that we execute everything to perfection, and we will focus on ourselves to extract the maximum from the package we have. The team has been working hard on how we prepare for the event and our operation over the whole weekend, knowing that on a street circuit these elements can make a real difference. Get this right and I'm sure we can deliver a strong result with both drivers.

Ferrari at the Baku City Circuit

8 GP Contested
2016 Debut European GP (S. Vettel 2nd; K. Raikkonen 4th)
0 Wins
5 (62.50%) Pole positions
2 (20.00%) Fastest laps
5 (20.83%) Podiums

Three questions to Olivier Helvig, Performance Engineer.

What kind of aerodynamic compromise is required at the Baku City Circuit?
Olivier Helvig: With one of the longest straights of the season you need the least drag possible but at the same time you need good downforce for two main reasons: confidence when braking and good grip in low speed corners, which are in the majority at this track.

How does the high likelihood of Safety Car deployments affect race preparation?
OH: Actually, in terms of setting up the car, not much and we can just make a few small changes to the set-up. For the strategy group it is more of a headache, because it can have a significant impact and as always it is part of the risk assessment and evaluation of possible scenarios to identify the statistically optimum strategy or strategies based on when a Safety Car might appear.

Tell us about yourself. How did you come to join Ferrari, and what does it feel like to be part of Scuderia Ferrari HP?
OH: From childhood and, in line with the famous quote from Enzo Ferrari, I was one of the children who chose the red car to play with. While other kids were thinking of football or music, I was already thinking of Formula 1, Ferrari and of engineering Formula 1 Ferraris.

Being part of the Scuderia is for me a mix of achieving my dream, even though the real dream is winning the world championship with this team, along with the responsibility of giving that satisfaction to the many passionate people like me who love Ferrari. Every day is a chance to learn something new, be it technical or on the human side. I am lucky to have this opportunity to immerse myself in Italian culture, its way of life, while sharing my passion with thousands of colleagues who work in Formula 1 or with the Hypercar or the road cars. Because for me, they are all the one company.

Facts & Figures

2.6. The population of Baku in millions, making the Azerbaijan capital the biggest city in the Caucasus and on the coastline of the Caspian Sea.

40. The different types of pilaf, the national dish of Azerbaijan. Originally from Persia, it was first recorded in Azerbaijan around the year 1000 and became the national dish. Each variation has links to specific regions or stems from local tradition. Pilaf is a dish made with steamed long-grain rice combined with meat, generally lamb or beef, onions, dried fruit including apricots or raisins, and aromatic spices including turmeric and saffron. What makes it unique is that the ingredients are cooked separately and then brought together, so that each ingredient retains its unique flavour and the rice remains fluffy and the grains separate. In many versions, the dish is finished with a golden, crispy crust at the bottom of the pot called qazmaq, which adds to its visual appeal and flavour. It is regarded as a special dish and a symbol of hospitality, served at celebrations and weddings, with numerous sweet or savoury regional variations.

350. The number of active mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan, found mainly in the Gobustan and Absheron regions. These volcanoes do not produce lava, actually throwing up hot mud, natural gas, and clay, forming cones and pools that can reach several metres in height. The phenomenon is caused by underground oil and gas deposits, which push the mud to the surface. Some volcanoes occasionally emit flames, while others create surreal landscapes of steaming pools and craters. They are major tourist attractions and areas of geological study, in addition to being considered unique natural heritage sites. The three most famous are: Dashgil, on the island of the same name in the Caspian Sea. It is known for its spectacular eruptions and in July 2021, it produced a giant fireball with flames reaching up to 500 metres high, which could be seen as far away as the capital. This volcano is one of the most active and offers a unique visual experience. Then there's Lokbatan, only 15 km from Baku, known for its frequent eruptions while the Gobustan area is home to over half of Azerbaijan's mud volcanoes. This region is also famous for its prehistoric rock carvings, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4466. The altitude in metres of Mount Bazarduzu, the highest peak in Azerbaijan, a country best known for the fact that much of it is below sea level. Baku, for example, is located at -28 metres.

12000. The tons of black tea that Azerbaijan imports every year, even though it grows some domestically. It is the national drink and is served in virtually every situation, from family visits to business meetings. Traditionally, a two-level teapot or "caydan" is used, in which a concentrated brew is diluted with hot water, so each person can adjust the strength to their liking. Tea is served in pear-shaped glasses called armudu, which enhance its colour and retain heat longer. It is often accompanied by local sweets, jams, nuts, dried fruit, and sugar cubes, but never served with milk. Drinking tea is part of Azerbaijan hospitality and welcoming guests with it is a sign of respect and friendship.