Baku's circuit debuted as the European Grand Prix venue in 2016 before taking the Azerbaijan name. It combines an extremely narrow passage beside the medieval city walls with a flat-out run along the Caspian waterfront, and its layout has remained largely stable.
The chaotic 2017 race featured collisions, penalties and Daniel Ricciardo's victory from tenth. In 2021 Max Verstappen's late tyre failure produced a two-lap sprint won by Sergio Pérez after Lewis Hamilton ran off at the restart.
Across 6.003 km, its 20 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a street circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its anti-clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
