Main race of Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off in Baku Ferrari’s Leclerc takes pole

The main race of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of Formula 1 has officially commenced in Baku.

The start signal was given at 15:00 local time on September 15.

During the September 14 qualifying session, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed pole position, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri taking second place and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz securing third, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez began the main race from fourth place, while Mercedes’ George Russell started from fifth.

The Baku City Circuit, spanning a length of 6.003 km, includes 20 corners and requires drivers to complete 51 laps, covering a total distance of 306.049 km. Known for its distinctive layout, the track boasts the longest straight in the F1 calendar at 2.1 km, where drivers reach speeds of up to 340 km/h. Another key feature is its 8 sharp 90-degree turns. The inaugural race in Baku took place in 2016 as the European Grand Prix, while all subsequent editions were titled the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The 2016 race was won by German driver Nico Rosberg. Since then, winners have included Australian Daniel Ricciardo (2017), British driver Lewis Hamilton (2018), Finn Valtteri Bottas (2019), Mexican Sergio Perez (2021, 2023), and Dutchman Max Verstappen (2022). The race was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heading into the main race, Max Verstappen of Red Bull leads the overall standings with 303 points, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris in second with 241 points. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc holds third with 217 points, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz round out the top five.

In the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull leads with 446 points, closely followed by McLaren with 438 points and Ferrari with 407 points.