F1 LIVE: Azerbaijan GP FP1 Updates from Baku City Circuit

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend kicks off with FP1 at the challenging Baku City Circuit, a street track notorious for its blend of technical corners and long straights, promising plenty of drama and overtaking opportunities. Drivers will use this session to build confidence and fine-tune their setups for the demanding layout.

Why it matters:

• FP1 at Baku is crucial for drivers to acclimatize to the unique demands of the street circuit, which combines high-speed sections with intricate, tight corners.
• This session is vital for teams to gather initial data, assess tire performance, and begin optimizing car setups for both qualifying and the race, given the circuit's dual nature.

The Details:

• Circuit Characteristics: The Baku City Circuit is a 6.003 km street track featuring a mix of extremely tight sections, such as the castle section, and incredibly long full-throttle straights.
• Driver Challenge: Drivers face the unique challenge of balancing aerodynamic setup for cornering grip with drag reduction for top speed on the extensive straights.
• Confidence Building: With minimal run-off areas, building confidence lap by lap is paramount, as any mistakes can be costly.
• Tire Management: Understanding how tires behave on the new asphalt and under varying temperatures will be a key focus, especially with the potential for high degradation.

What's next:

Following FP1, teams will analyze the data to make adjustments before FP2, where they will further refine their cars for qualifying and race simulations. The initial feedback from drivers will be critical in guiding setup changes throughout the weekend as they chase optimal performance on this demanding street circuit.

• The subsequent practice sessions will see increased aggression from drivers as they push the limits, anticipating the critical qualifying session and Sunday's race where overtaking is a real possibility.