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The Baku City Circuit hosts the upcoming round of the Formula 1 season. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes center stage this Sunday. It has been another unforgettable season of F1 action.
The narrative heading into this weekend will see the pressure on Ferrari. They look to strike back after Red Bull’s dominant weekends in Monaco and Spain since the action returned to Europe.
Track Information & Records
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has only been a regular fixture in the F1 calendar since the 2017 season. But it has already been a track where both Mercedes and Red Bull have dominated.
Both manufacturers have recorded two victories apiece at the Baku City Circuit. Red Bull’s latest win came 12 months ago. Sergio Perez beat Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly to top the podium.
The race this weekend will cover a total distance of 306.049 km. Meaning that 51 laps of the track will be covered.
Drivers will be looking to take advantage of the two DRS detection zones. They’re located on the city circuit. But drivers will have to navigate tricky exits in the third sector to ensure the best exit.
Therefore, the best chance of an overtake.
Leading Contenders
Once again, it looks set to be a battle between Ferrari and Red Bull at the top of the grid. However, Max Verstappen will only be too aware of the drama that could unfold in Baku. He crashed out with five laps remaining 12 months ago.
Lewis Hamilton’s error also cost him the chance of victory last year. But whether either of the Mercedes drivers could enter calculations looks unlikely.
Both George Russell and the seven-time world champion appeared to have a difficult week in Monaco last time out. Mercedes struggled with the tight corners on the street track. Due to that, it’s difficult to see either challenge for the win.
Verstappen is the clear favorite in the betting after another strong performance in Monaco to take third. That extended his championship lead over Charles Leclerc to nine points. Leclerc endured a frustrating weekend in his home Grand Prix.
The team order almost certainly cost him victory, as the track position was handed to the Red Bull drivers. The biggest danger to Ferrari’s chances this season could be themselves.
Monaco was the weekend when Sergio Perez finally emerged as a leading contender for the Drivers’ Championship. After Red Bull’s decision to prioritize Verstappen in Spain, few would have seen Perez coming to Baku just 15 points behind his teammate. But, that could lead to a very interesting narrative. Red Bull boss Christian Horner can no longer prioritize either driver.
Drivers in need of a big weekend include Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo. The latter’s place in McLaren has come under intense pressure this week following the Australian’s disappointing season to this point.
This has seen him score just eleven points. However, Ricciardo did win here in 2017, but a top-ten finish looks like his best bet this weekend.
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Prediction
The big question that needs answering is whether Ferrari is going to be back to form this weekend. However, we struggle to see past the reliant Red Bull and could see another 1-2 on the horizon. Verstappen would be our pick to win the race, with Perez taking second. Leclerc could soften the blow with a third-place finish.
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Betting Lines
Max Verstappen +110
Charles Leclerc +175
Sergio Perez +550
Carlos Sainz +900
George Russell +2200
Lewis Hamilton +2800
Lando Norris +10000
Valtteri Bottas +15000
Fernando Alonso +25000
Pierre Gasly +30000
Daniel Ricciardo +35000
Kevin Magnussen +50000
Esteban Ocon +50000
Yuki Tsunoda +50000
Sebastian Vettel +50000
Mick Schumacher +100000
Guanyu Zhou +100000
Lance Stroll +150000
Alex Albon +200000
Nicholas Latifi +300000
