🏎️ F1 updates from Baku from 12pm BST 🏎️ Preview link | Sign up for the Recap | Mail Dominic
According to said broadcaster, the winds have dropped in Baku and we’re set for favourable racing conditions on a track that, although twisty, can lend itself to overtaking well. It’s always a setting in Baku with the 6km-long track right in the heart of the old city.
Swedish House Mafia is now blaring out on the track, as Russell gets on his Mercedes scooter to head for the track and shares a few – and I mean only a few – words with Sky Sports.
If you want the vibe following at home, go for it:
Fair play, the Azerbaijan anthem is an absolute banger. And it has just been performed on track.
If you remember, last year, before lights out, George Russell and Lando Norris were seen giggling as a group of local children belted the anthem out with plenty of passion.
We’re about to get the anthems and all the pre-race pomp and ceremony. The drivers and teams are making their on-track adjustments before it all starts.
Lando Norris hasn’t been a happy bunny this season. He described McLaren’s lack of pace as “pretty pants” in the lead-up to this Grand Prix, and fifth on the grid to start the race reflects that mediocre performance by the reigning world champion.
With Piastri qualifying third, can Norris rein in his teammate and finish on the podium this weekend? It would seem doubtful, in truth.
Whether races take place in the Middle East towards the end of the season, or not, could affect this season’s F1 world championship. Kimi Antonelli leads his Mercedes teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine meetings remaining, as it stands. If that number was reduced the Italian could close it out even sooner than might be expected.
Formula One is pressing ahead with its original plan to finish the season with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, although a contingency is understood to be in place to host a final round in Imola if the volatile situation means both meetings have to be cancelled.
“I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East,” said Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. “From what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don’t have all the information and I don’t know what the risk levels are. I trust in Stefano [Domenicali, F1’s chief executive] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.”
“Today’s a big opportunity,” says Antonelli, speaking to the broadcasters. “The car is very quick, so hopefully we can gain a lot of places.”
The 20-year-old is a confident young man.
Is there any chance Kimi Antonelli can win this race from way back on the grid? Well, at Monza he came back from 19th to take victory and Baku, with its long straights, has opportunities for overtaking. But he cannot afford to be caught in incidents in the midfield.
“Race smart in the early stages tomorrow and I am sure he has the pace to climb his way back up the field,” said the Mercedes deputy team principal, Bradley Lord.
His teammate, George Russell, said: “You can’t discount Kimi. You know, started 19th in Monza and now he’s in 16th, so, yeah, he should be leading by a few laps early this time.” He added: “He’s been flawless this season. It’s the first mistake he’s made in a qualifying or race this whole year.”
Here’s how the grid looks at the start of the race:
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – with a Saturday race day for us all to enjoy. The big story from qualifying yesterday was World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashing out, meaning he will start today’s race 16th on the grid, handing the initiative to his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who claimed pole position.
Antonelli said his crash was “stupid” but also “a good way to come back to earth” after a few weeks for the young Italian driver, who won the Italian and Spanish Grands Prix to take his tally to eight race wins so far this season.
Second fastest in qualifying in Baku was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc second, with Oscar Piastri third.
The race gets under way at 3pm local time in Azerbaijan, which translated to midday UK time. We’ll bring you all the relevant buildup, followed by lap-by-lap updates, well near enough anyway. Can Antonelli pull off the improbable in Baku, can Russell close the gap to the championship leader, or can one of the Ferraris or McLarens make an impact? Let’s find out.