Venue & Race Details
Race: Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025
Location: Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan
Circuit Length: 6.003 km (3.73 miles)
Laps: 51
Race Distance: 306.049 km (190.17 miles)
First Grand Prix: 2016 (as European GP), 2017 as Azerbaijan GP
Lap Record: 1:43.009 – Charles Leclerc (2019)
Weather Forecast (Baku)
Friday (Practice): Sunny, highs of 82°F (28°C), light winds
Saturday (Qualifying): Partly cloudy, 80°F (27°C), breezy conditions
Sunday (Race Day): Clear skies, 78°F (26°C), minimal rain risk
Perfect racing weather is expected, with track temperatures favoring aggressive tire strategies.
Driver & Team News
Max Verstappen (Red Bull): Fresh off a dominant win at Monza, Verstappen looks to carry momentum into Baku.
McLaren (Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri): McLaren’s intra-team rivalry continues to be a storyline, with Norris and Piastri battling for supremacy.
Ferrari (Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz): Leclerc has a strong record in Baku, including multiple poles. Ferrari will look to capitalize on straight-line speed.
Mercedes (George Russell & Lewis Hamilton): Searching for consistency, Mercedes must maximize strategy to stay in the fight.
Aston Martin (Fernando Alonso): Veteran Alonso thrives on street circuits and could be a dark horse.
Key Storylines
McLaren’s Title Push: McLaren could mathematically clinch the Constructors’ Championship earlier than any team in F1 history if results go their way.
Red Bull Resurgence: Verstappen’s Monza win suggests Red Bull may have rediscovered form at the right time. Can they repeat in Baku’s tricky setup window?
Safety Car Factor: The Azerbaijan GP has a history of chaos—safety cars and red flags are common, often flipping strategies upside down.
Ferrari’s Qualifying Edge: Leclerc’s one-lap pace in Baku has been exceptional; the question is whether Ferrari can convert pole into victory.
Recent Team Form
Red Bull: Verstappen back on top at Monza, Tsunoda showing improved qualifying pace.
McLaren: Norris and Piastri consistently on podiums, but team orders have stirred controversy.
Ferrari: Strong qualifying, but race pace and tire degradation remain concerns.
Mercedes: Flashes of speed, but lacking consistency in long runs.
Series History
Past Winners:
2024: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2023: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
2022: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2021: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Unique Feature: The castle section (Turns 8–12) is one of the narrowest and most iconic sequences in F1, often deciding qualifying laps and race fortunes.
Betting Trends
Red Bull & McLaren have dominated 2025 podiums.
Ferrari often qualify well in Baku but struggle to convert.
Safety Car Probability: Extremely high; bettors often back “Yes” for safety car deployment.
Underdogs: Street circuits have produced surprise podiums (Stroll 2017, Gasly 2021).
Historical Betting Results
2024: Leclerc won at +600 odds.
2023: Pérez cashed at +400.
2022: Verstappen delivered as the favorite at +200.
Trend: Baku rewards both favorites and opportunists—chaos creates value for longshots.
DRIVER ODDS
Oscar Piastri + 180
Lando Norris + 185
Max Verstappen + 380
Charles Leclerc + 550
George Russell + 1800
Lewis Hamilton + 2200
Andrea Kimi Antonelli + 10000
Yuki Tsunoda + 25000
Nico Hulkenberg + 25000
Liam Lawson + 25000
Isack Hadjar + 25000
Gabriel Bortoleto + 25000
Fernando Alonso + 25000
Carlos Sainz + 25000
Alexander Albon + 25000
Oliver Bearman + 30000
Lance Stroll + 30000
Esteban Ocon + 30000
Pierre Gasly + 40000
Franco Colapinto + 50000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
