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Ahead of the 2026
Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Paul Williams, Chief Trackside Engineer, shares
insights into the key technical factors that will shape the weekend.
What are the key
technical challenges of Baku?
• One of the longest laps of the season, run through the streets of the
city, with track width that varies from very wide sections to very narrow
ones around the old town. The corner mix is equally unusual: Turns 8, 9 &
10 are tight and steeply uphill, a steep downhill run follows T15, and
T17-T20 have previously been taken flat, effectively turning the
start/finish straight into a 25-second full-throttle blast.
• The
surface was largely resurfaced in 2023 and is smooth, more akin to a
permanent racetrack than a typical street circuit. Further resurfacing at
Turns 2, 3 & 4 this year means understanding the grip level in that
section will be a key focus on Friday.
• Track temperature varies
significantly through the afternoon as the surrounding buildings drop the
circuit into shade, so car balance can shift noticeably within a single
session.
• Traffic and flag disruptions are a constant risk, alongside
the difficult trade-off between finding a clear lap and picking up a tow
down the long straight.
How do the 2026 regulations
influence the approach this weekend?
• Baku is a medium-to-high
energy sensitivity circuit, largely due to the extremely long run from
Turn 16 to T1, where teams expect to use the full battery window in both
qualifying and the race. Exiting T16 at 100% charge will be critical.
•
Most corners here are traditionally low speed, with anything high speed
comfortably taken flat. However, the Turn 18-19 high-speed combination
could pose a new challenge if the lower downforce levels of the 2026 cars
result in a lift.
• The MGU-K delay before opening a push lap will be
the longest of the season on this straight, so teams may explore
interesting options on the outlap. Whatever approach is taken, expect cars
travelling at very different speeds down the straight depending on whether
they're on a slow or fast lap.
• Two SLM zones are defined for 2026,
both active in the wet, though the activation point for Zone 1 has been
reduced.
What are the tyre
challenges of the circuit?
• Pirelli have brought the softest
compounds in the range, well suited to the track's very low tyre energy
density, but one step harder than the C4/C5/C6 allocation used in 2025.
• The circuit generates high longitudinal energy through braking and
traction, but low lateral energy, making it difficult to build tyre
temperature.
• The surface is smooth and low-grip, and expected to be
dusty across FP1 and FP2. Combined with the circuit dropping into shade,
track temperature variation around the lap is larger than typical.
• In
qualifying, achieving tyre warm-up on both axles is very difficult, which
may push the soft towards becoming a multi-lap tyre.
• In the Grand
Prix, despite the low grip, sliding can be well managed in racing
conditions, reducing tyre wear, while the long straights allow good
thermal resets that benefit the softer compounds.
What are the strategic
considerations for the race?
• A clear one-stop race, with all
compounds expected to perform well. Low degradation across the range could
favour racing on the soft, so watch for top teams saving a set in
qualifying.
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