Baku City Circuit

Track Info

Location	Baku, Azerbaijan
Type	Street Circuit
Length	6.003 km (3.730 miles)
Turns	20
Capacity	~30,000 (grandstands)
Opened	2016 (first race as European Grand Prix)

Track Characteristics

The Baku City Circuit is one of the most dramatic and unpredictable venues in Formula 1. The 6.003 km layout winds through the streets of Azerbaijan's capital, combining an ultra-narrow section through the medieval Old City with one of the longest straights in F1 along the Caspian Sea waterfront. This contrast between tight, twisting castle walls and flat-out top-speed sections creates a circuit unlike any other on the calendar.

The castle section (Turns 8 through 12) is the signature sequence. Cars thread through passages barely wider than the vehicles themselves, with ancient stone walls on both sides. The narrow gate at Turn 8 is the tightest point on any current F1 circuit, demanding millimeter precision at racing speed. The contrast could not be starker when cars emerge from the castle onto the 2.2 km back straight, where speeds exceed 350 km/h before the heavy braking zone into Turn 1.

Baku has earned a reputation as the most consistently chaotic race on the calendar. Safety cars, red flags, last-lap drama, and unexpected winners are practically guaranteed. The combination of the punishing walls, high-speed straights, and the disruption that even a small incident causes on this narrow circuit makes Baku appointment television every single year.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), approximately 25 km east of the city center and circuit.
Nearest City	Baku (the circuit runs through the heart of the city, along the Caspian Sea waterfront and through the Old City)

2026 Event Info

Race Name	Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Round	15 of 22
Sprint Weekend	No
TV	Apple TV

Track Record

Lap Record	1:43.009
Record Holder	Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, 2019)

Notable Past Races

• 2022: Max Verstappen won after both Ferraris retired with mechanical failures while running 1-2. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were both in strong positions before their cars gave up, a devastating blow to Ferrari's title hopes.
• 2021: Max Verstappen suffered a high-speed tyre blowout on the main straight while leading with five laps to go. The red flag restart saw Lewis Hamilton lock up into Turn 1 and run off track, handing victory to Sergio Perez. Pure chaos.
• 2017: The first Azerbaijan Grand Prix (previously European GP) was an instant classic. Sebastian Vettel deliberately drove into Lewis Hamilton behind the safety car, earning a penalty. Daniel Ricciardo won after the frontrunners hit trouble.
• 2018: Red Bull teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen collided while fighting for position. Valtteri Bottas led the race on the final lap but hit debris and suffered a puncture, handing victory to Lewis Hamilton.

Track Facts

• The 2.2 km back straight along the Baku waterfront is one of the longest in F1, allowing cars to reach speeds well above 350 km/h.
• The castle section passes through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City (Icherisheher), one of the most visually dramatic backdrops in motorsport.
• Turn 8 is the narrowest point on any current F1 circuit, with barriers barely wider than the car width on each side.
• The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has produced a different winner in many of its editions, earning a reputation as the most unpredictable race on the calendar.
• The first race at Baku in 2016 was called the European Grand Prix before being renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 2017 onward.

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