Warm, dry Azerbaijan GP forecast, but strong winds could test drivers in Baku

Formula 1 heads to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with another warm, dry weekend on tap. Temperatures will peak at 28C, but strong winds across the track sessions could be the real talking point.

Why it matters:

Baku is a street circuit with long straights, tight corners and walls that punish mistakes. Wind can shift a car's balance mid-corner, and with little margin for error, it can force drivers to alter their line through the most demanding sections.

The details:

• Thursday – FP1/FP2: Warm and dry, 22-28C air, 0% rain. Track temps could hit 49C, so tire management will be busy. Winds average 17.6 kph with gusts up to 57.6 kph, enough to make the cars feel lively.
• Friday – FP3/Qualifying: Cooler, 20-24C, clear skies. Winds are the big factor: averaging 24.5 kph and gusting to 64.8 kph. That could make qualifying the trickiest session, with drivers fighting for one-lap performance while the car moves around.
• Saturday – Race: Favorable conditions, 20-26C air and a max track temp of 43C. Winds ease to 15.5 kph average, with gusts up to 43.2 kph from the north. No rain is expected, so the race should stay dry.

What's next:

With rain out of the picture, wind becomes the main variable. Friday's gusts could shake up qualifying, especially through Baku's high-speed and heavy-braking zones. Expect a dry, warm race weekend, but one where the wind may still have a say.