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Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Formula One live race updates, blog

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Roar Guru
12th June, 2022
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From one set of gruelling streets to another, Formula One’s appetite for street circuits continues to be satiated following a hectic Monaco Grand Prix as it now arrives to Baku City Circuit. Join The Roar for live race updates and rolling coverage from 8:50pm (AEST).

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix plays host to the eighth round of the Formula One world championship, which in 2022 has been a topsy turvy tale for the likes of Ferrari, who started off the season as favourites and now are trailing behind the resurgent Red Bull.

A fine win for 2021 Azerbaijan winner Sergio Perez in Monaco last time out, played the newly re-signed veteran in championship contention, trailing Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc by six points and his Red Bull teammate and reigning world champion Max Verstappen by 15.

No driver has gone back-to-back in Baku since its first race on the calendar as the European Grand Prix in 2016. It is a venue that Red Bull and Mercedes have split the wins at, while Ferrari has always been the bridesmaid.

The 6km street course causes a headache for car setup, as unlike Monaco it blends long straights with low-speed corners, including the infamous narrow Castle section. So across the 51 laps, there will be a need for high wing levels through some corners, but then low wing levels for the long straight.

Leclerc vindicated Ferrari’s Friday pace and claimed his sixth pole of the season, 0.282-seconds ahead of Perez. Sharing the second row will be Verstappen and Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.

Red Bull still are believed to have the superior race pace, as has been the case in recent races and with overtaking more of a certainty at Baku – there will be no surprise seeing Perez and Verstappen blasting past Leclerc down the pit-straight.

George Russell slots in behind the top two teams, with an eager eye on maintaining his prized record of finishing every race in the top five this year for Mercedes. Such is the nature of Baku, that surprise results can happen – just ask seventh-placed Lewis Hamilton about last year.

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There is Sebastian Vettel too, who is yet to finish outside the top four in Baku having extended that run last year with a shock podium for Aston Martin. The German starts ninth, ahead of both McLarens eliminated in Q2.

Will it be a Sunday where Ferrari can execute a win? Or will the Red Bulls run wild again and, in that case, can Perez become the first driver to go back-to-back?

Another thrilling race awaits on the streets of Baku, so tune in from 8:50pm AEST on The Roar for live blog coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Race Information
Lights out:
9pm (AEST)
Venue: Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel

Grid
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 5. George Russell (Mercedes), 6. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 8. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 10. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 11. Lando Norris (McLaren), 12. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 14. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo), 15. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), 16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 17. Alexander Albon (Williams), 18. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 20. Mick Schumacher (Haas)

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