Pros and cons of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Weekend with F1

Last weekend, the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku was a huge success. When I say "huge success," there’s no exaggeration—it's simply a fact. This eighth edition of the Baku race was one of the best, if not the best, of the season. It will certainly be remembered as one of the top four races out of the 24 in the new season, which started on March 2 in Bahrain.

It wasn’t just about the star-studded entertainment; this year’s race featured the charismatic actor and singer Will Smith, whose popularity surged after his infamous Oscars slap. Of course, we’ve also had Enrique Iglesias, who is popular in Baku without any such drama.

It wasn’t even the appearance of the eternally youthful supermodel Naomi Campbell—although having her wave the checkered flag to signal the end of the race was pretty impressive. We’ve seen models both younger and more glamorous before, like Croatian Ivana Knoll last year.

What truly stood out were the races themselves. The unexpected champion was Oscar Piastri, who became the second Australian to win in Baku after Daniel Ricciardo. Unlike Ricciardo, who raced for Red Bull-TAG Heuer, Piastri represents the McLaren-Mercedes team.

Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024, there was a change in the Constructors' Championship standings. McLaren-Mercedes took the lead with 476 points, pushing Red Bull down to second place with 456 points. Ferrari remains in third place with 425 points.

The drivers from Ferrari, once the dominant team, have had a string of misfortunes in Baku. For the fourth consecutive time, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured pole position (the top spot in qualifying) but once again failed to convert it into a race victory. He was overtaken by Piastri midway through the race. Another Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, collided with Sergio Perez from Red Bull towards the end of the race, inadvertently clearing the path for Piastri’s win.

Despite Piastri's victory, it did not affect Max Verstappen's leading position in the championship. The Dutch driver, who won in Baku two years ago but had an off-race this time, still holds the top spot with 313 points. McLaren’s Lando Norris is in second place with 254 points. The top three is rounded out by the unlucky Charles Leclerc with 235 points.

Thus, Sergio Perez remains the only driver to have won in Baku twice, in 2021 and 2023. This fact highlights the unpredictability of the six kilometers of the Baku circuit. Each year, this track gains more popularity among Formula 1 fans worldwide. Although locals often criticize the track due to the massive traffic jams caused by the race, the revenue from ticket sales continues to grow year after year.

However, it would be preferable to reduce ticket prices for Azerbaijani citizens, as the cost, reaching up to 1010 manats ($594), is beyond the means of the average person. Especially if that person wishes to attend the event with their family, given that the races are traditionally held on weekends. It is hoped that this concern will be addressed and that we will see a difference in pricing for locals and tourists in the coming year.

Interestingly, despite a significant increase in grandstand capacity this year (by nearly a third), all the tickets were sold out, indicating a growing international interest in our races. The clash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz will likely remain a hot topic in global media at least until the final race of the season, which will take place on December 8 in Abu Dhabi.

By Vugar Vugarli