Baku, the newest circuit on the F1 calendar with just one race under its belt so far is the second longest after Spa at 6.003 kilometres.
It is undoubtedly one of the most unusual tracks the F1 circus will travel to in the season as it is a mix of street circuit, running through the centre of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, but with a single straight of 2.1 kilometres in length, which is over a third of the total distance and is tackled flat out.
Last year, the highest recorded speed was in excess of 378 km/h and unlike other venues they have raced on this season to date, it is unlikely that the cars will hit those sort of numbers due to their increased downforce and wider wheels.
However, finding the right set-up for Baku will still be a difficult task for drivers and engineers, because when deciding on the optimal level of aerodynamic downforce, one has to weigh up the demands of the slowest section, with the need for speed down the straights. This type of circuit also requires excellent traction in the twistier corner and it is also tough when it comes to energy recovery.
Scuderia Ferrari's advance party already arrived in the capital city on the banks of the Caspian Sea over the weekend. Last year, Sebastian Vettel finished second, but with the strengths he has been displaying so far this year, a win is most certainly on the cards.
“In Canada we didn't have an ideal race. But I think we had a good recovery from there,” he said. “Now, we'll see what happens during this weekend. This is a different track with a specific layout. Last year we did a god job here in Baku. We finished second, struggled a little bit on Friday, but managed to recover well on Saturday. Now we are working real well in the team and I think things are coming together”.
