F1 team principals had varying opinions on how the Baku weekend played out, in some cases perhaps influenced by how their own teams had fared.Any such discussion has to be undertaken in the right context. Firstly the principle of sprint weekends has been established over the last two seasons, and Read more
Both the sprint and the main event in Baku were notable for a lack of passing compared to previous events at the track.The FIA has the right to adjust the activation point of DRS zones, usually based on data gathered at the last event at the venue and at previous Read more
The Italian acknowledged that at one stage there was a possibility that the Australian might have missed some of Saturday’s sprint day track action in order to focus on being fit for Sunday’s main event.In the end Piastri greatly impressed the team by not only completing the weekend but also Read more
Hamilton was running fifth in the early stages but, along with initial race leader Max Verstappen, he was one of several drivers who pitted under green-flag conditions just before a safety car emerged.Many of his rivals were able to make cheap stops and, by the time it had all shaken Read more
Sergio Perez’s latest street track victory has raised his hopes of really taking on Max Verstappen for the 2023 world title. That and the Mexican driver’s victory in the tweaked sprint format, along with his team-mate’s George Russell clashes, meant Perez left the Baku weekend nine points closer in the Read more
The French car manufacturer’s sporting director saw first-hand the challenges that Alpine faced as its weekend “snowballed out of control” following a fire on Pierre Gasly’s car on Friday.At an event where the team had hoped to have a trouble-free run to evaluate a new floor update, it encountered engine Read more
Drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were reckoned to have lost 0.2s on the main straight in Baku during the Friday practice run and both the grand prix and sprint race qualifying sessions.The malfunction was primarily caused by an aerodynamic characteristic of the new low-drag wing specification, which meant the Read more
Ocon stretched his starting hard compound Pirellis until the final lap, with his Alpine team hoping a late safety car or red flag event might create an opportunity for the driver to gain a cheaper pitstop.With no such incident occurring, to avoid disqualification and similar to Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, Ocon Read more
Early leader Verstappen was brought into the pits on lap 10 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after starting to struggle with his rear tyres and being put under pressure by team-mate Sergio Perez.Moments before the decision AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries had stopped on track after clipping the wall in Turn Read more
Polesitter Leclerc was passed by Max Verstappen and eventual Baku victor Sergio Perez come only lap six of 51, with the Ferrari driver opting not to fight the Red Bulls to preserve his Pirelli tyres.The Monegasque eventually finished 21 seconds adrift of Perez but held off Aston Martin driver Alonso Read more