 Grand Prix Circuit (2016–present) | |
| Location | Azadliq Square,Baku,Azerbaijan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°22′21″N49°51′12″E / 40.37250°N 49.85333°E /40.37250; 49.85333 |
| Capacity | 18,500[1][2] |
| FIA Grade | 1[3] |
| Opened | 17 June 2016; 9 years ago (2016-06-17) |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix (2017–2019, 2021–present) European Grand Prix (2016) |
| Website | https://www.bakucitycircuit.com |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2016–present) | |
| Length | 6.003 km (3.730 mi) |
| Turns | 20 |
| Race lap record | 1:43.009 ( Charles Leclerc,Ferrari SF90,2019,F1) |
TheBaku City Circuit[4] (Azerbaijani:Bakı Şəhər Halqası) is amotor racingstreet circuit located inBaku,Azerbaijan constructed nearBaku Boulevard. A lap of the circuit is 6.003 km (3.730 mi), making it the fourth-longest circuit on the Formula One calendar[5] (afterCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps,Jeddah Street Circuit andLas Vegas Strip Circuit).[6] The inaugural Formula One race at the circuit was the2016 European Grand Prix and its support events.[7] A year later, in 2017, the circuit held the inauguralAzerbaijan Grand Prix. The event is organised by Baku City Circuit Operation Company (Azerbaijani:Bakı Şəhər Halqası Əməliyyat Şirkəti).
In December 2013, Formula One President and CEOBernie Ecclestone suggested that the race would be run in2016 but later said that because theKorean Grand Prix organisers were inbreach of contract, it would be moved to2015.[8][9][10] However, in July 2014 it was announced that the race's debut would be delayed until 2016.[11]
The 6.003 km (3.730 mi), anti-clockwise layout of the circuit was designed by circuit architectHermann Tilke.[12] The circuit starts adjacent toAzadliq Square, then loops aroundGovernment House before heading west along a 1 km (0.62 mi) straight to thePalace of the Shirvanshahs andMaiden Tower. Here, the track has a narrow 7.6 m (25 ft) uphill traversal and then circles theOld City before opening up onto a 2.2 km (1.4 mi) stretch alongNeftchilar Avenue back to the start line.[11][13] The circuit was projected to be the fasteststreet circuit in the world, with a top speed close to 360 km/h (220 mph)[14] and the second-longest circuit on the current F1 calendar, behind theCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps inBelgium.[15][16] The circuit's tight layout through urban parkland shares similarities with theMontjuïc circuit which hosted theSpanish Grand Prix in the 1970s.[17]
The2016 GP2 race, which was in support of the2016 European Grand Prix, saw 12 out of 22 drivers fail to finish.[18][19]Valtteri Bottas set a new unofficial Formula One top speed record in qualifying for the 2016 European Grand Prix whenWilliams claimed to have data showing him reaching 378 km/h (235 mph), eclipsing the previous record of 372 km/h (231 mph) set in 2005 byJuan Pablo Montoya forMcLaren while testing atAutodromo Nazionale di Monza.[20]
Pirelli found that 90% of the rear tyres used in free practice for the 2016 Grand Prix had been cut by the bolts securing kerbs to the ground not being drilled into the ground far enough,[21] whileJenson Button andNico Rosberg expressed concern over the lack of run-off areas which would be dangerous in the case of an incident such as a high speed puncture or mechanical failure.Valtteri Bottas was forced to miss the whole of Free Practice 3 when a drain cover came loose and caused significant damage to hisWilliams FW38.[22] Similarly, the first practice session of the2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was cancelled whenGeorge Russell hit a loose drain cover.[23] Many drivers praised the circuit for the challenge offered by its mixture of long straights, slow technical sections and no margin for error due to the proximity of the walls.[24] In 2021, Rosberg criticised the location of the pit lane entrance adjacent to the 350 km/h (220 mph) main straight, calling it "one of the places I always found the most dangerous of the whole year".[25] Formula One race directorMichael Masi disagreed with Rosberg, saying the venue "fulfills all of the various safety requirements that the FIA has within its regulation requirements".[25]
In October 2022, Arif Rahimov was dismissed from the post of Executive Director of Baku City Circuit, after he had held this position for the past 7 years. Magsud Farzullayev was appointed acting executive director.[26]
As of April 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Baku City Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit: 6.003 km (2016–present) | ||||
| Formula One | 1:43.009 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF90 | 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix |
| FIA F2 | 1:53.478 |  Isack Hadjar | Dallara F2 2018 | 2023 Baku Formula 2 round |
| GP2 | 1:54.792 |  Antonio Giovinazzi | Dallara GP2/11 | 2016 Baku GP2 Series round |
