After its first five years as a host of the Formula 1 world championship, the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan has forged a reputation as a unique street circuit where chaotic races throw up unexpected results.
Looking at the times from Friday, it might be easy to assume it was a typical first day of practice by 2022 standards, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest time only a quarter of a second quicker than the Red Bulls of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. But this is Baku and there is no such thing as a straightforward day in the cockpit around one of the most unforgiving venues on the calendar – especially in these heavier, ground effect cars of 2022.
Throw into the mix gusts of wind so fast they would break the pit lane speed limit at some circuits and it becomes easier to see why the many run-offs around the six-kilometre course greeted a wide selection of drivers on this first day of running.
“I mean, Baku’s hard enough normally,” said Lando Norris after ending his day as the tenth fastest driver. “But with the cars we have it’s worse over the bumps, it’s worse under braking, which makes it tricky.
“Also the wind today – gusts of 35-40kph at times – it’s nasty when you’re inside the car. So it’s tough.”
The inconvenient gusts of wind caught out drivers across the field – even the two fastest drivers Leclerc and Perez, who both had to bail out of attempts to make it through corners and extract their cars from the escape roads. Sebastian Vettel also found the conditions a challenge.
“It was incredibly windy during FP1, which meant it was very easy to lock a wheel under braking or run up an escape road,” said the Aston Martin driver. “I had a couple of lock-ups, but otherwise it was a pretty smooth day.”
While the air over the cars was causing drivers difficulties, so was the airflow beneath them. After most drivers enjoyed a respite from downforce-induced porpoising…
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