At 6.003km, Baku is the second longest circuit of the year, making the race just 51 laps long. It's also the first anti-clockwise track on which we run this season and another big test for the brakes, with plenty of big stops.
Teams know much more about this street circuit than they did one year ago, when they came here for the very first time, so the learning curve won't be as steep once we start practice on Friday.
However, it is a new track for Esteban Ocon, so giving him track time will be a priority.
“I really enjoyed my first experience of driving in Montreal. When I got out of the car it felt as though I had only been racing for 15 minutes because everything went by so quickly – that's when you know you're having fun! It was another weekend where the team did a fantastic job improving the cars. Every time we went out in practice and qualifying, we took a step forward and that's been one of our strengths this year,” he said.
“It felt great to be in the battle for a podium and to see how competitive we are as a team. It makes me feel excited about going to Baku and what we can achieve there. It feels like we've got a really good understanding of how to get the most from this car. It's another new track for me, but I'll keep trying to learn as fast as possible and I'm sure I can get on the pace quickly. I've been playing some computer games to learn the track so I've done my homework.”
“Baku is a great destination for Formula One. Street races always generate a special atmosphere and the city is really cool. I was able to explore a bit last year so I know my way around the place and I've walked the track, but I've yet to drive there.”
Set-up wise, there are significant long straights which will require lower drag level wings. The majority of grip-limited corners are low speed so the car needs to be strong there. It can be very hot in Azerbaijan at this time of the year and we will need to prepare to handle those conditions, if required. Most importantly, we will need to set up a car in which our drivers can be confident: like in Monaco and Montreal, many of the corners are lined with walls so precision is an absolutely key element.
