Author: Barkha Roy
The Baku City Circuit will host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from April 28-30, marking the fourth race of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship after a three-week break. This year’s race will feature a new format called the “sprint format”, which changes the usual structure of the weekend race.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been part of the F1 calendar since 2016, previously known as the European Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won the 2022 race, beating Sergio Perez, while the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, dropped out.
The new sprint event will change the format of the weekend’s race. Instead of two practice sessions on Friday, there will be just one practice session, followed by the qualifying session, which sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. On Saturday, the “sprint shootout” qualifying session will replace the old second practice session and set the grid for the sprint race.
Max Verstappen will go into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a 15-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship, with Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton close behind. Red Bull holds a 58-point lead over Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship, with Mercedes in third place and Ferrari in fourth.
Red Bull’s advantage in their car could be reduced due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, which was due to take place on April 16. This gave Red Bull’s competitors four uninterrupted weeks to work on updates and try to close the gap. Unlike the summer break, when the teams have to shut down for two weeks, the factories have been operating during this period.
Sergio Perez, as well as Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, are hoping for a better result to challenge Max Verstappen for first place in the drivers’ championship. Perez is currently 15 points behind his teammate, having finished fifth in Melbourne. However, Perez has won four of his five F1 victories on street circuits, including the Saudi Arabian race earlier this year, which could give him the confidence to compete against Verstappen.
However, Azerbaijan has not been a track on which Ferrari has done well, with only three podiums to its name and a double retirement last year. If Ferrari performs badly again this year, its quest for the world title could be postponed for another year.
McLaren has had a disappointing start to the season and plans to unveil the first of three major upgrades to the MCL60 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team is currently fifth in the Constructors’ standings and hopes to improve on its previous performance in Australia.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for providing intense drama and season-defining moments, with thrilling moments in every year of the event’s existence except its debut season. Fans can expect nothing less from this year’s race.