SHOULD YOU WATCH?
RACE TIMELINE
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
A track that always threatens chaos and this time genuinely delivered on it, packing in drama, tension and talking points that had fans buzzing and pundits reaching for the record books. It comfortably met the hype that surrounds this divisive venue, with enough incident and intrigue to keep everyone glued throughout. A rewarding watch that earns a full-race viewing.
Round 15 brings the circus to Baku's street circuit, a track that splits fans right down the middle — some brand it a "dogshit track" with too little overtaking, others live for the chaos its long main straight and unforgiving walls tend to serve up. Note the quirk this year: the race runs on Saturday, moved off Sunday to respect Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day. Qualifying chatter centered on a blistering George Russell lap and an ominous Mercedes gap, with Kimi Antonelli backing them up and Isack Hadjar impressing by beating Verstappen. Baku rarely delivers a clean, predictable race — expect safety cars, mistimed VSCs and strategy swings that can flip the order. Divisive circuit, but genuine unpredictability keeps eyeballs on it.