Drivers relishing challenge of flat out Baku

Formula One drivers have praised the Baku City Circuit's tight and fast section ahead of turning their first laps of the track tomorrow.

Drivers will be expected to navigate one of the tightest circuits on the calendar through the twisty streets of Azerbaijani capital Baku, which will also see some of the highest speeds of the season.

Commenting on his simulator experience of the track, Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz said that F1's newest track looked "interesting".

"From the laps I did on the simulator, looks like it could well be flat with some good walls waiting for you," he said. "Maybe behind a car with a bit less downforce it becomes more tricky."

"But the interesting part, I think, comes after those two flat-out corners (turns 13 and 14). That is a good downhill that you brake and turn that is, again, not much run-off area so I remember the simulator being quite tricky there and hopefully it stays the same tomorrow and is a challenging corner."

Sebastian Vettel agreed that the high speed corners on the circuit would be exciting, but said the most challenging part for him would be the tightest part of the circuit when the track weaves between the walls of the old town

"I think the whole part there looks very exciting, starting from Turn Eight. Basically going around the old town," said the Ferrari driver. "It’s nice to see, when I walk the track, it’s quite some gradient. It goes up, there should be a blind apex around 10-11, which is a big challenge and then obviously those two corners you mentioned at fairly high speed."

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
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Spain
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Bahrain
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6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
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Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
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Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
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Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (38)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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