Formula 1, Round 17: The 2024 Azerbajan Grand Prix

We’re two-thirds of the way through the season, and with all the European races behind us, Formula 1 is moving on to its flyaway events. First up: a double-header for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and then it’s Singapore. With the championship battles heating up, here are some key things to keep an eye on ahead of this weekend’s race in Baku.

Baku Track Breakdown

• When was the track built? Technically, it wasn’t! Baku is one of the newer street circuits in Formula 1, joining the ranks of Monaco, Melbourne, and Singapore as a street ciruit.
• First Grand Prix? The Azerbajan Grand Prix’s first race happened in 2016 as the European Grand Prix, then the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017. That race saw Daniel Ricciardo take a surprise win, while Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel had a bit of a scuffle behind the Safety Car.
• What’s the circuit like? It’s a mix of wide-open straights and tight, twisty sections. The main straight runs along Baku’s shoreline and is perfect for slipstreaming, often allowing cars to go three-wide into Turn 1. After that, it winds into the city’s old town, where the narrow, winding streets are super punishing, like Monaco. Teams face a tricky decision between more downforce for the twisty parts or less drag for the long straight.

McLaren and Team Orders Drama

This season’s been full of surprises, and with a third of the races still to go, predicting what happens next is a tough task. Red Bull dominated early on, but now Ferrari and McLaren are both in the mix. Even Mercedes has shown flashes of brilliance, only to fall back again.

With things so tight, team orders have become a hot topic for McLaren. Lando Norris started from pole in Monza, while Max Verstappen was down in seventh. Norris had a shot to close the gap to Verstappen in the championship, but after being overtaken by teammate Oscar Piastri on lap one and finishing behind him in third, he couldn’t capitalize as much as he’d hoped.

Norris has been clear, saying, “I’m not here to beg for someone to let me pass,” but Piastri has suggested he’s open to helping his teammate if needed, especially as Norris is much closer to Verstappen in points. McLaren boss Andrea Stella has hinted that the team might consider team orders as both championships become more realistic for them. Will we see this play out in Baku?

Ferrari’s Momentum

It’s not just McLaren in the hunt—Ferrari is also chasing the constructors’ title. After Monza, Ferrari is just 39 points off the lead, with Charles Leclerc closing his gap to Verstappen after a strong win.

Ferrari struggled earlier this season when an upgrade didn’t deliver the goods, but they’ve bounced back with a couple of podiums and promising updates. Baku has been a good track for Ferrari, especially Leclerc, who’s been on pole here for the past three years. This weekend will also give them a chance to test their new floor, introduced last race, and see if they’re really ready to fight for more wins before the season wraps up.

Red Bull’s Search for Answers

Amid all this, Red Bull is looking for solutions. After a hot start to the season, where Verstappen seemed untouchable, things have cooled off, and they haven’t won a race since Spain.

Verstappen himself admitted that both titles are looking less realistic right now due to their car’s struggles. He’s called on Red Bull to make some major changes, though going back to the old setup probably won’t fix the problem, as other teams have caught up.

Zandvoort was about damage control for Verstappen, who finished second, and Monza didn’t give them much time to react. But with a two-week gap before Baku, Red Bull has had more time to dig into the data. If they struggle here, it could signal more trouble for their hopes in Singapore.

Bearman’s Second Chance

Remember the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix? Feels like ages ago, but Ollie Bearman does—it’s when he first stepped in as a last-minute substitute for Carlos Sainz. Now he’s back, this time filling in for Haas after Kevin Magnussen got a one-race ban for picking up too many penalty points.

Bearman’s had a bit more warning this time, but he’s still in for a tough challenge on another tricky street circuit. Haas isn’t the most competitive car, but Bearman’s got nothing to lose and can gain valuable experience for when he races full-time with the team next season.