Baku beckons

The European leg of the 2025 Formula 1 season is behind, and as the championship heads into its final third, all eyes turn to the Baku City Circuit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, writes Naman Arora.

With eight rounds remaining, the final act kicks off with a race weekend where anything can happen.

McLaren Momentum

The defending Constructors’ Champions head to Baku in dominant form. They currently lead the Constructors’ standings by a huge margin – about 337 points over Ferrari, and even more over Mercedes and Red Bull.

They could wrap up the Constructors’ title this weekend if they outscore Ferrari by nine points, regardless of what their rivals do. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have been relentless in racking up results. Between them, they have secured a dozen wins and seven one-two finishes.

This weekend could see history made.

If McLaren outscore Ferrari by nine points and are not outscored by Mercedes by 12 points or more, or Red Bull by 33 points or more, they will seal the Constructors’ title with seven races still to spare, setting a new record for the earliest clinch.

For a team that last defended a championship in the early 1990s, this could be an iconic weekend.

Title Duel

While much of the spotlight is on McLaren’s collective bid, the individual battle remains fierce.

Piastri leads Norris, with both locked in as the only real contenders for the driver’s crown. Unlike the inter-team battles of years past that often soured relationships, theirs has been conducted with sharp competition but mutual respect.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is barely a threat, as McLaren’s consistency has put the reigning champion on the defensive.

With points gaps widening, his role may be less about winning the championship and more about spoiling McLaren’s run.

Young Pressure

Two of the sport’s youngest drivers arrive in Baku under pressure.

Oliver Bearman is balancing on the edge of a ban, sitting on 10 penalty points, and just two more would trigger an automatic race suspension.

Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, has endured a tough European stretch.

Criticism from Toto Wolff after Monza raised questions, but the rookie has often performed better on unfamiliar tracks.

Having scored a podium in Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada, earlier this season and run well in Baku in F2, this weekend could be a chance to reset.

Bulls Not Dozing

Monza reminded everyone that Red Bull are not finished.

Verstappen’s emphatic win there, complete with fastest laps, marked his third victory of the season and offered evidence of renewed pace.

Baku is a very different challenge, demanding precision in the tight castle section and bravery on its long straights. If Red Bull’s Monza performance was down to setup changes and their new floor, Azerbaijan will show whether the resurgence is real.

Victory in Azerbaijan would mark Verstappen’s fourth of the campaign and reassert their relevance in a season where they have often looked outclassed.

Sergio Pérez, meanwhile, faces pressure to rediscover form, as speculation swirls around his long-term place in the team.

The Baku Factor

The city circuit in Azerbaijan has become a bit of a fan favourite for its unpredictable drama. Its combination of the tight, technical castle section and a long flat-out run to the finish line creates both overtaking opportunities and unforgiving hazards.

The 2017 edition remains infamous for its collisions and safety cars, while 2021 produced high drama with Verstappen’s late tyre blowout and Lewis Hamilton’s restart error.

Last year, a gripping duel between Piastri and Charles Leclerc kept fans on edge until the final lap.

The castle section is barely wide enough for a single car, demanding inch-perfect precision, while the flat-out blast along Neftchilar Avenue offers the longest full-throttle stretch in Formula 1. Drivers must balance aggression with survival, knowing that even a minor misjudgement can end their race.

The walls are unforgiving, the strategy windows are narrow, and safety cars are almost expected.