The new look Sprint format
After 4 weeks off, Formula 1 returns with a Sprint weekend. However, the rules of the sprint have changed a little as last year, Qualifying took place on Friday and set the grid for Saturday’s Sprint and the results of the Sprint set the grid for the main race on Sunday. However, this year, Qualifying takes place on Friday and sets the grid for the main race on Sunday whilst Saturday becomes a Sprint day. The morning starts with the “Sprint Shootout”, a shorter version of qualifying that sets the grid for the Sprint race which takes place later on in the day. The Sprint itself is still 100km long and you get 8 points for a win down to 1 point for finishing 8th.
Can Sergio Perez keep up his brilliant Street track record?
Sergio Perez has a pretty great track record at winning around Street circuits. He’s done it at Singapore, at Baku, at Monaco, and around Jeddah so if he’s ever going to be right up there fighting with Max it’s probably going to be this weekend. Checo currently sits second in the championship on 54 points, 15 behind his double World Champion teammate so he’ll definitely be looking to try and close the gap this weekend.
Ferrari need to bounce back
This isn’t a question, this is a statement! After the first three rounds of the season, Ferrari sit 4th in the Constructors’ Championship with just 26 points. Sainz has 20 of those points (currently 5th in the standings) whilst Leclerc has the other 6 points (currently 10th in the championship). Ferrari scored 0 points in Australia (Sainz got a penalty whilst Leclerc DNF’d on the first lap) so it can only get better for the Prancing Horse (you hope).
Can Nyck de Vries score his first points of the season?
Nyck de Vries is a really talented racing driver, but he’s struggled a bit this season, particularly compared to his teammate. Nyck finished 14th in both Bahrain and Jeddah whilst he finished 15th in Australia (he technically didn’t finish) whilst his teammate Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t finished lower than 11th. De Vries currently finds himself bottom of the championship and he’ll be looking for a good race to get his first points of the season (and with Alpha Tauri).
Will we get a 7th different winner around the streets of Baku?
Formula 1 first went to the Baku City Circuit in 2016 for the European Grand Prix. Since then (including 2016), we’ve had six races and seen six different winners. Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, and Max Verstappen have all had the privilege of standing on the top step of the podium in Azerbaijan so can the likes of Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Fernando Alonso or maybe someone else continue this amazing stat?
My Predictions for Azerbaijan Qualifying:
Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez
Charles Leclerc
Fernando Alonso
George Russell
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