Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Timing Is Everything

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place on Sunday, September 15, at 3:00 p.m. local time (AZT) or 12:00 p.m. BST. It was the 17th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season and was held at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The race was 51 laps long, covering a total distance of 306.049km or 51 laps of the 6.003-kilometre circuit.

The race started at 3 pm local time (AZT)

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event in the Formula 1 racing calendar. In 2024, the race started at 3 pm local time, also known as AZT, on Sunday, the 15th of September. This was the 17th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, taking place at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The race commenced following third free practice and Saturday's qualifying, which determines the starting positions of the drivers.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its exciting street circuit in Baku, attracting spectators from around the world. The race consists of multiple laps around the city, with drivers navigating through the narrow streets and tight corners. The circuit presents a unique challenge for drivers with its combination of long straights and technical sections.

In the lead-up to the 2024 race, there was much anticipation and speculation about the potential winners. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc started in pole position, having qualified first the day before. This was Leclerc's fourth consecutive Azerbaijan pole position. Other contenders for the top spot included Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who qualified second, and Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who qualified fourth and sixth, respectively.

As the race progressed, the competition intensified, and the drivers pushed their skills and vehicles to the limit. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for placing high demands on both drivers and cars, with its unique combination of speed and technical challenges. The outcome of the race was uncertain until the very end, with the winner only emerging in the final laps.

It was the 17th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season

The 2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the 17th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season. It took place on the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 15 September 2024. The race started at 3:00 pm local time (AZT) or 12:00 pm BST.

The race was highly anticipated, with all eyes on Red Bull following their convincing victory the previous year. However, Ferrari and McLaren were considered the top favourites for victory in Baku due to their strong performances leading up to the race.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured pole position for the fourth consecutive time in Baku, edging out Oscar Piastri of McLaren by just 0.321 seconds. Leclerc had also been victorious at the previous Grand Prix in Monza, claiming a stunning home victory for Ferrari.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a highly competitive race with several notable incidents. Lando Norris, a championship contender, suffered a shock exit in Q1 and finished 17th. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, the Drivers' Championship leader, finished sixth and looked to capitalise on Norris' slip-up to extend his lead.

The race ultimately came down to a thrilling battle between Piastri and Leclerc, with Piastri edging out Leclerc for the win by just 10.91 seconds. George Russell rounded out the podium in third place, 31.328 seconds behind Piastri.

It took place on the Baku City Circuit

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a Formula 1 race that takes place on the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Baku City Circuit is a street circuit, with the race taking place over 51 laps of the 6.003-kilometre track. The circuit is known for its narrow streets and long straights, including a 2.2-kilometre straight that is the longest on the F1 calendar. The race typically takes place in the middle of the F1 season, often as the 17th race of the year.

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place on Sunday, September 15, starting at 3:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. BST). The race was the 17th of the 2024 F1 season and was highly anticipated, with all eyes on Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes as the top teams battling it out in qualifying.

Qualifying for the 2024 race took place on Saturday, September 14, at 4:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. BST). The race itself started at 3:00 p.m. local time, with the cars racing into the evening as the sun set over Baku. The temperature at the start of the race was a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius, and the conditions were dry and warm with moderate winds and a low chance of rain.

The Baku City Circuit has been described as a challenging and exciting track for drivers, with a mix of high-speed straights and tight, technical corners. The circuit passes by some of Baku's most famous landmarks, including the Government House, the Maiden Tower, and the Caspian Sea. The circuit is also known for its unique pit lane, which is located underneath the track and accessed via an underground tunnel.

The qualifying session began at 4 pm local time (+4 GMT)

The qualifying session for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix began at 4 pm local time (+4 GMT) on Saturday, 14 September. This set the stage for an exciting race on Sunday, with the pole position claimed by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who beat McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just 0.321 seconds.

Leclerc's impressive performance in qualifying continued a streak of success, marking the fourth consecutive time he started at the front in Baku. This achievement, however, was overshadowed by the unexpected early exit of Lando Norris, who finished a disappointing 17th due to confusion between yellow and white flags.

The qualifying session was a crucial determinant of the starting grid positions for the race, which took place on the Baku City Circuit. This circuit, renowned for its narrow streets, presented a challenging and exciting course for the drivers. The race itself, consisting of 51 laps, commenced at 3 pm local time on Sunday, 15 September, marking the 17th round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event in the world of Formula 1, attracting audiences from around the world. With live broadcasts and streaming options available in numerous countries, fans eagerly awaited the outcome of the race to witness the skill and strategy of the drivers as they navigated the demanding Baku circuit.

Oscar Piastri won the race

Oscar Piastri won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, claiming his second Formula 1 race win. The McLaren driver beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in a thrilling duel, with Mercedes' George Russell finishing third.

The race, which took place on 15 September 2024, was full of drama and tension. Piastri took the lead from Leclerc on lap 20 and successfully defended his position for 30 laps, despite Leclerc's relentless pursuit. The Australian driver's victory also put McLaren in the lead for the constructors' championship, ahead of Red Bull.

Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, started the race in 15th place but managed to finish fourth, beating Max Verstappen. Norris' impressive comeback kept his title hopes alive and reduced Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship to 59 points with seven races remaining.

The race ended behind a virtual safety car after a high-speed crash between Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on the penultimate lap. Both drivers were unhurt, but the collision ensured a captivating contest ended on a more subdued note.

Piastri described the win as "one of the best drives" of his career, acknowledging the pressure he felt throughout the race. His victory in Azerbaijan, along with Norris' strong performance, marked a significant moment for McLaren, who had not led the constructors' championship in a decade.

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