5 standout moments that made the Azerbaijan Grand Prix an epic race
With such an atypical layout, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has always been able to produce exciting and unpredictable races. Let's go back to the highlights in the history of this race.
It is difficult to pick out standout moments from these Grand Prix races as they are all more impressive than the others. But some facts stand out more than others, discover here the 5 most remarkable facts of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
2018 – Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are going too far.
At the end of an intense battle over several laps between the two Red Bull teammates, tension reaches its peak on lap 40, when Daniel Ricciardo, drafting along the start/finish straight, catches up to Max Verstappen.
DRS open, the Australian quickly finds himself behind his teammate, he pretends to move to the outside before cutting back inside. At the same time, Verstappen covers the outside of the corner before cutting back, in the braking zone, in front of Ricciardo. The collision is then unavoidable and both Red Bulls end up out of the race.
The pivotal moment in Baku 💥
Ricciardo and Verstappen collide in dramatic fashion
Recording a second double-DNF for Red Bull in three races#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/OMwH9Ct9BV
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 29, 2018
2018 – Bottas, eternally unlucky
Following the collision between the two Red Bulls, Valtteri Bottas returns to the pits under the safety car to make his first pit stop, and he emerges as the leader of the Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel.
After a long Safety Car period that disappears with only 4 laps to go, Bottas finds himself defending against Vettel, who misses his braking point and then continues the Grand Prix alone in the lead. However, on the next lap, the Finn loses everything when his rear right tire punctures due to debris resulting from the accident between Ricciardo and Verstappen. The Finnish driver goes from a controlled victory to retirement in the span of 6 kilometers. Formula 1 is sometimes cruel, and Valtteri Bottas will always remember this tragic Grand Prix.
BOTTAS PUNCTURE!
The race leader’s right-rear disintegrates and Hamilton leads!
Bottas retires when he looked on course for victory 💔
Perez passes Vettel and is on course for a podium#AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/PFjVutPYU0
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 29, 2018
2021 – A race over two laps.
The 2021 edition of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix didn’t seem like the most thrilling race, given Max Verstappen’s dominant pace throughout. But fate struck the leader once again with a puncture, sending him into the wall in the middle of the long straight. A red flag was immediately waved, just 3 laps before the end of the Grand Prix. The remaining drivers found themselves back on the grid with only 2 laps left to race.
On the restart, Lewis Hamilton locks up his front wheels and is forced to finish in the escape road. Perez then takes the lead ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly. The latter will have to defend against Charles Leclerc, who had taken pole position the day before. The podium will remain unchanged after an intense sprint. Once again, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix proves to be full of surprises.
LAP 47/51
Drama in Baku!!!
Verstappen crashes into the barriers on the main straight and is out of the race #AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/cpiNig7eL8
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2021
2017 – Hamilton and Vettel crumble under the safety car.
After a eventful start to the Grand Prix, with Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas colliding at turn two, followed by the successive retirements of Joylon Palmer, then Danill Kvyat and finally Max Verstappen. The safety car comes out on the 12th lap, and Sebastian Vettel finds himself behind Lewis Hamilton.
The latter complains about the Safety Car’s slow speed and slows down before being lightly hit by the German driver, who is currently in second place. Sebastian Vettel then positions himself next to Hamilton and retaliates by giving him a tap with his wheel. The FIA will deem Vettel guilty and penalize him with a 10-second Stop and Go for dangerous driving. However, he will still finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton, allowing Daniel Ricciardo to clinch the victory.
LAP 20/51: More drama in Baku as HAM and VET collide behind the Safety Car 😲#AzerbaijanGP #F1Baku 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/rGcRwIhImi
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 25, 2017
2017 – From P10 to an unexpected victory
Because before all the incidents that shook up this Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo was starting only tenth on the grid. The Australian worked his way up the field before finding himself in 6th place behind Felipe Massa, Nico Hülkenberg, and Lance Stroll. At the restart, after the safety car, Daniel Ricciardo burst from 6th place to make a pass on all three drivers in a single turn. This move earned him the award for the best overtake of the season.
At the same time, Sebastian Vettel finds himself in the pit lane to perform his Stop and Go, and Lewis Hamilton is forced to follow Vettel into the pits to fix his neck brace. The Australian then inherits the first place, which he will keep throughout the race.
