F1 LIVE | Qualifying for the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is about to get underway in Baku. After four weeks of waiting since the chaotic Australian Grand Prix, it is finally time for the next Formula 1 race on the calendar. This time, the F1 circus travels to Baku for the Azerbaijan GP, where the first free practice session has now been held. This liveblog will keep you updated on all the action during qualifying on Friday.
F1 Liveblog: Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP
A new format for F1 sprint weekend
During the race weekend in Baku, global F1 viewers will be presented with a different schedule than usual. This is because the FIA has decided to change the sprint weekend format, so we are faced with not one but two qualifying sessions. On Friday, that will be qualifying for the main race on Sunday.
Whereas previously, this qualifying session still determined the starting grid for the sprint, this is no longer the case. From now on, the qualifying result will determine the starting order for Sunday's race, while the sprint race will have a separate qualifying session. In addition, the sprint shootout will be run prior to the sprint on Saturday morning.
Max Verstappen enters the weekend with Red Bull Racing as a towering favourite, but teammate Sergio Perez is hot on his heels. Both won the race once, while Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo climbed the top step once in Baku. Perez is known as a king of the street circuits, so seeing how he matches up this weekend will be interesting.
Upgrades and Baku
Teams have been able to push the reset button due to the unusual spring break. As a result, some will introduce new parts this weekend, though Baku is one of the most treacherous tracks on the current calendar. According to research provided by ICE36, Baku is the third most treacherous circuit on the calendar. With an average of 2.4 crashes per race, it sits behind only Monaco and Singapore. As a result, this weekend, drivers must navigate four meaningful push sessions rather than the usual two.
The Baku circuit features a long straight that will favour Red Bull, but the top speed delta has shrunk slightly compared to 2022. Mercedes have a car with high drag, so it is unlikely to see them challenge in sector one, but there are slow-speed corners elsewhere to give them a chance to catch up.