By: Formula 1 heads to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, this weekend for one of the fastest and most distinctive street circuits on the calendar. The 6.003km track features 20 corners, some of them right-angled, with highly technical sections running through the old city and long straights where the cars reach very high speeds.
Some of the city streets that make up the circuit have been resurfaced, with work carried out on the section between Turns 2 and 4. The new asphalt should not affect tyre behaviour, which, as is often the case on street circuits, will initially be influenced by relatively low grip levels. Track evolution over the weekend should nevertheless be significant, thanks to the gradual build-up of rubber on the surface.
For this event, Pirelli has selected its softest range of compounds: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. Last year, the selection was one step softer and included the C6 as the soft compound. However, that tyre was not used in the race, as drivers preferred to extend their stints and retain greater strategic flexibility by relying on the C5 and C4.
This year, the race weekend schedule has been brought forward by one day: the first two free practice sessions will take place on Thursday, followed by qualifying on Friday and the race on Saturday at 15:00 local time (13:00 Italian time).
The relatively smooth, low-abrasion asphalt should result in very low levels of wear and degradation, making a one-stop race the most likely scenario. The C5 could, however, prove capable of delivering particularly long stints, as was recently seen at Monza, a circuit that shares some characteristics with Baku. By contrast, the Hard compound could be overlooked by many teams in the race.
Despite being a street circuit, Baku places significant loads on the tyres because of its exceptionally long main straight and numerous low-speed acceleration zones. It is a "stop-and-go" track, where braking stability and the ability to maximise traction on corner exit are crucial. Aerodynamic efficiency is also particularly important, and a car with low drag could enjoy a clear advantage.
One of the most interesting tyre-related aspects will be temperature management. The very long flat-out section linking the final corner to the first promotes tyre cooling, helped by developments in wheel rim design. However, this could increase the risk of wheel lock-ups under heavy braking, particularly on the front axle.
Ambient temperatures could also help keep tyre overheating under control. Despite the generally warm climate, the buildings lining the circuit create numerous shaded areas, limiting the rise in track-surface temperature.
Last year
At the start of the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 11 drivers opted for the C5 Medium, while the remaining nine started on the C4 Hard. All drivers then completed the race with a single pit stop, without using the C6 at any point. Esteban Ocon, after being forced to pit on the opening lap to replace a damaged front wing, fitted the Medium tyres and completed the full race distance on that set.
2026 Azerbaijan GP: complete guide
This is the second of the six in-depth features that we regularly publish on formula1.it in the build-up to each race weekend. Alongside Pirelli's analysis and information, these include the event's TV and streaming schedule, analysis of braking and energy recovery, official updates, the first images and setups from the pit lane, as well as the table of power unit components used.
All the news, photos, weather, session times and times from the Azerbaijan GP 2026
