F1 2025 Baku: Everything You Need to Know About the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix returns one more time to cause havoc, speed, and total insanity. If you’ve never been to Baku, this race, the craziest on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, is a great reason to visit the city. Not that kind of run-of-the-mill boring circuit where nothing transpires – this is an event where careers are made, championships are lost, and drivers often remind themselves why they took the direction they did in life whilst driving their cars through medieval walls at 200+km/h.

Before planning your trip in Baku, organize your visa problems. One cannot simply show up and wish things will work out at the airport. Ensure that you get your visa sorted at visaforazerbaijan.org.uk since the last thing you need to be spending your time on is visa issues.

This guide will give you all the facts you really need to know about the Baku GP, such as why the drivers hate certain sections of the track, as well as how to have the best view of the unavoidable carnage via the various grandstands. Azerbaijan F1 race has become a must-see event, and in case you are considering attending an event, you must find out all the important questions.

The Baku City Circuit: A Track That’s Perfect

This Baku F1 track is one designed by Hermann Tilke, and to be frank, he must have been laughing his head off when he drafted this one. The circuit was initially branded as the European Grand Prix in 2016 (which you can understand why this is confusing), then it had to be changed to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017. No wonder, since that point, it produced more drama than a soap opera, more uncertainty than the British weather.

Why This Track Is Completely Bonkers

The Baku Grand Prix circuit measures 6.003km, which implies that the drivers have to go through 51 laps of sheer panic. The fastest lap record is 1:43.009 by Charles Leclerc in 2019, but it does not matter at all because in the real race, you can see cars crashing into walls like pinballs.

Here’s the thing about the Baku F1 track – it combines the worst aspects of Monaco (impossibly tight corners) with the most dangerous parts of Monza (stupidly long straights). 

The main straight is over 2.2 kilometers long, letting cars hit 350+ km/h before they have to brake for Turn 1. It’s like giving someone a machine gun and then asking them to thread a needle.

The Old City Section: 

Turns 8-12 run through the Old City walls, and this is where the real entertainment happens. The track narrows to just 7.6 meters at its tightest point, which sounds reasonable until you remember these cars are 2 meters wide and traveling at racing speeds. 

The walls are actual medieval stonework, so when someone hits them (and someone always hits them), it’s spectacular. There’s no room for error, no run-off areas, and no forgiveness. One tiny mistake and you’re out, your race is over, and your team is looking at a repair bill that could buy a house.

F1 2025 Azerbaijan GP Dates And Schedule: When the Madness Happens

The 2025 F1 season brings the Baku GP to us on September 19-21, 2025. This timing is crucial because it’s late in the season when championship battles are heating up and drivers are taking risks they probably shouldn’t be taking.

Your Complete Weekend Breakdown

Friday, September 19, 2025:

• Free Practice 1: 11:30 – 12:30 local time
• Free Practice 2: 15:00 – 16:00 local time

Saturday, September 20, 2025:

• Free Practice 3: 12:30 – 13:30 local time
• Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00 local time

Sunday, September 21, 2025:

• Race: 14:00 local time

Friday practice is when teams figure out they have no clue how to set up their cars for this bizarre track. Saturday qualifying is when the real fun begins – this is when drivers push the limits and find out exactly where those limits are (usually by hitting a wall). Sunday is race day, and that’s when everything goes completely sideways.

The Azerbaijan F1 qualifying session is particularly crucial because overtaking is limited in those tight sections. Get it wrong in qualifying, and you’re stuck behind slower cars with no way past except hoping they make mistakes.

Key Sections of the Baku F1 Track: A Guided Tour of Insanity

Let us walk you through the specific parts of this Baku F1 track that make it so special (and by special, we mean absolutely bonkers).

The Main Straight: Where Physics is Ignored

This 2.2 kilometers straight is absurd. Vehicles accelerate between 80 km/h and 350 km/h, and the drivers are running flat-out until what seems like eternity. It is the second longest straight in F1, and seeing the cars slipstreaming each other at such speeds is thrilling as well as frightening.

Turn 1 is where the majority of races are won prior to being properly begun. It is a 90-degree right-hander where everyone comes into it far too quickly, and the barriers are close enough to keep it interesting. We can almost definitely expect first-lap incidents here.

Turns 2-7: The Boring Bit (Relatively Speaking)

Following the mayhem of Turn 1, the circuit slows a little with successive medium speed corner combinations. This part doesn’t really flow well, and overcoming is almost impossible, so participants start their time here, trying not to fall, but to gain positions.

Turn 3 is a very long right which flows into the Turn 4 chicane, and it is a combination which foils drivers who assume that they are already familiar with the circuit. The change in elevations and direction changes also keeps everyone in check.

The Castle Section: Turns 8-12: Where Heroes Are Made and Careers End

This is what everybody is talking about. The track passes through the walls of the old City, and it is just insane. Turn 8 is a left turn that forms the uphill, which goes through Turns 9 and 10 that become closer and closer to the barriers until you arrive at Turn 11.

Turn 11 is the smallest turn on the whole F1 schedule. The posts are placed 7.6 meters apart, and the car’s width is 2 meters. Solve the math. There’s no room for error, no forgiveness. A single little error and you’re done for good.

This section is finished with a tight right-hand turn 12, which spews you out onto another straight. At this stage, the drivers should have perspired more than they would like to acknowledge.

Turns 13-20: Back to the Land of the Living

And just after surviving the castle section, drivers receive one more high-speed blast. Turn 13 is a speedy right-hander that transfers passengers on the second-longest straight on which vehicles reach around 300 km/h again.

Turn 16 Turn 16 is a 90-degree left that has gotten the reputation of an overtaking place, largely due to the fact that it is one of the very few locations on the circuit where passing can actually happen. The last corner is Turn 20, a right-hander which joins the main straight again, and achieving the proper corner is a key to a good lap time.

Most Successful Drivers And Teams in Baku: The Heroes And Villains

The Baku Grand Prix may be quite new, but it has already left some legends and dashed some hopes.

The Drivers Who Get It Right

Sergio Perez is the only one to have won the Baku GP twice (2021 and 2023), and that alone gives you an idea of what one has to do here. He is by no means the fastest driver on the grid, but instead, he is intelligent, patient, and knows how to avoid trouble whilst others are crashing their cars into walls.

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious, demonstrating that experience and racecraft count more than pure speed at this circuit. His breakthrough was due to tactical thinking and keeping calm, as those around him went mad.

Team Performance: The Good, the Bad, And the Expensive

At the Azerbaijan F1 venue, Red Bull Racing has had the best record as it has won various podiums and done remarkably. Their vehicles are apparently able to cope with the peculiar mix of fast portions and technical places better than the majority of vehicles.

Mercedes were successful early on when their power unit was the strongest, but in recent times, they have had a more difficult time because the track has demonstrated shortcomings in their car balance. It was a key to their advantage in straight-line speed.

Ferrari has performed brilliantly in qualifying, particularly with Charles Leclerc, but there have also been some magnificent crashes. The 2022 season race was especially painful, as both cars had to drop out in competitive positions, due to mechanical failures and pitfalls.

Tips For Fans Visiting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Don’t Mess This Up

One should undertake proper planning to attend the F1 Baku event. This is not a typical race weekend, and there are no ordinary rules.

What You Must Bring?

• What you need is a passport or national ID. Security is very high, and they will inspect your documents several times. Have them close at hand, yet safe.
• Carry both cards and money. And you do not want to miss food or drinks, wishing you had an alternative method of payment.
• Make sure your phone is charged, and carry a Power Bank as well. It is a big course; you will be taking photos and will require maps to guide you. A dead phone is a catastrophe in this journey.

What Will Get You Turned Away?

• No alcohol. The security will locate it. Do not attempt to slip it in; you will only end up wasting time and even miss the action.
• Longer than 30cm photograph cameras with lenses are prohibited. You can use your phone’s camera instead.
• Umbrellas, pyrotechnics, drones, and large bags are banned.

Clothing That Makes Sense

• September would be hot and humid in the area. Wear light clothes that you can move around in. The course requires a lot of walking.
• Wearing comfortable shoes is important. The surface is not smooth in certain areas, and you are going to have to stay standing all day.
• Bring earplugs. The F1 vehicles of our time are not as loud as they were before, but still loud enough to damage hearing during a race weekend.

Getting There Without Losing Your Mind

Arrive early. Security screening is time-consuming, and you do not want to run into masses trying to catch good places to view. Gates are opened hours before the initial session, and it pays to be early.

Security screening includes bag searches, metal detectors, and document checks. It’s thorough but efficient, so don’t stress about it. Just allow extra time.

Where to Sit: The Best Grandstands For Maximum Entertainment

Choosing the right grandstand can make or break your Baku Grand Prix experience. Each one offers different views and different levels of excitement.

Absheron Grandstand: The Main Event

This grandstand gives you the best overall view of the main straight and pit area. You’ll see race starts, pit stops, and high-speed overtaking moves. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for.

The elevated position lets you see both the approach to Turn one and the exit from the final corner. You’ll understand race strategy better from here because you can see how pit stops affect track position.

Icheri Sheher Grandstand: History Meets Horsepower

Positioned along the Old City walls, this grandstand combines historical atmosphere with racing excitement. You’ll watch cars navigate the most challenging part of the track while surrounded by medieval architecture.

This is where you’ll see the most dramatic moments. When drivers make mistakes in this section, they make big mistakes. The proximity to the barriers means you’ll appreciate just how skilled these drivers are.

Bulvar Grandstand: Turn 20 Action

This grandstand focuses on Turn 20, which is crucial for lap times and race strategy. Drivers need to nail this corner to get a good run onto the main straight, and you’ll see plenty of attempts at late-braking overtakes.

The view includes both the approach and exit, so you’ll understand why some drivers gain time here while others struggle.

Azneft Grandstand: Overtaking Central

Turn 16 is one of the few places where overtaking actually happens, and this grandstand gives you the best view of the action. You’ll see drivers trying different lines, late-braking moves, and defensive driving.

The elevated position means you can see the entire overtaking process, from the initial setup through the final execution.

Zafar Grandstand: High-Speed Thrills

This grandstand covers the long straight after Turn 20, where cars reach their highest speeds before the main straight. You’ll see slipstream battles and DRS-assisted overtaking moves up close.

The high-speed action is exciting, but it’s also over quickly. Cars pass at maximum velocity, and the sound and visual effects are impressive.

How to Get to the Baku GP: Transportation

Getting to the F1 Azerbaijan venue requires planning, but it’s not as complicated as some people make it sound.

Metro: Your Best Friend

The metro system is your most reliable option. Sahil and Icherisheher stations are closest to the circuit, and the metro runs frequently during race weekends. It’s cheap, efficient, and avoids traffic problems.

Buy a metro card for the weekend rather than individual tickets. It’s more convenient and slightly cheaper if you’re making multiple trips.

Buses: If You Must

Local buses serve the area, but expect delays and crowds during race weekend. The service is adequate, but the metro is more reliable.

If you do use buses, allow extra time and have backup plans. Traffic around the circuit gets heavy, and buses get stuck like everything else.

Driving: Don’t Even Think About It

Parking is extremely limited, and traffic is horrendous during race weekend. Unless you have official parking passes, driving is more trouble than it’s worth.

The streets around the circuit are closed or restricted, and finding parking can take longer than the race itself. Save yourself the stress and use public transport.

Conclusion: Why the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Is Essential F1 Viewing

For fans, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix offers an experience that combines world-class motorsport with rich cultural heritage. The setting is unique, the racing is exciting, and the atmosphere is electric. It’s a race that can change championships and careers in the space of a few corners.

If you’re planning to attend, don’t forget to apply for a visa to Azerbaijan, if you have any questions, contact our team directly at service@visaforazerbaijan.org.uk. Choosing us you won`t miss this race because of paperwork issues.