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The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for delivering unpredictable situations and drama on the F1 tracks, and it could potentially crown a winner that no one expects. Predicting the outcome of the upcoming race is difficult, as many teams are competing for the top spots this season and achieving positive results in various races.
F1 fans are giving McLaren the best chances, but it's clear that McLaren, like all teams this season, lacks consistency.
Some fans are also focusing on Mercedes, believing that the team might surprise in Baku.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' Director of Trackside Engineering, has commented on the Baku race, highlighting its challenging nature and the demands it places on teams. Meanwhile, Mercedes' leaders are striving to maintain optimism about their performance.
"Baku is an unusual circuit because you’ve got this really tight, twisty, very low speed sector two, and then this really long straight. It requires a relatively low wing level; that isn’t what you’d normally have with all those low-speed corners, but you’ve got to have it with the long straight," Shovlin said, as quoted by gpblog.
Andrew Shovlin stressed that the Baku race weekend often features many incidents that can impact the race. He pointed out that mistakes by drivers can easily lead to safety cars being deployed to clear up any issues. Additionally, Shovlin stated that this year, the competition is so tight that you could have three or even four teams all within a tenth or two of each other at any given track. This makes it difficult to predict qualifying results and race pace.
Mercedes' Director of Trackside Engineering believes McLaren could be fast, but he also mentioned Ferrari as a team with the potential to achieve great results. Shovlin did not forget to acknowledge Red Bull, a leading team this season despite some recent struggles.
It's impossible to rule out Red Bull, a team with the potential to reclaim the championship, especially with Max Verstappen at the helm. However, if Red Bull’s issues persist, it might open the door for McLaren to make a push for the championship. While this scenario might seem unrealistic to many, the unpredictability of F1 means anything can happen.
Toto Wolff reacts
Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes, recently addressed the team's performance this season, with a particular focus on Lewis Hamilton. In response to rumors suggesting that Hamilton might lack motivation and focus to achieve positive results with Mercedes, Wolff decided to set the record straight.
He acknowledged that things are going well and emphasized that he and Hamilton have a strong relationship. Wolff pointed out that their bond has not been affected by Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for the next season. He also mentioned feeling a positive atmosphere within the team and expressed a desire to make the most of the current momentum.
"No, it's great," Wolff said, as quoted by Racing News 365.
"It's super productive, the way we work with each other.
The spirits are high. We enjoy F1, all of us together. The relationships between Lewis and the team members have not at all been impacted, on the contrary.
I feel there's a really, really good mood in all of us working together."
Lewis Hamilton is optimistic
Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly stressed that he remains just as motivated to achieve success as he was in previous seasons, despite moving to rival Ferrari next year. The 39-year-old driver was aware as early as January that he would not be continuing with Mercedes, and shortly thereafter, he learned that the young Kimi Antonelli would be his teammate.
Lewis Hamilton stressed that he had known for a long time that Kimi Antonelli would be announced as his teammate. When asked if the announcement felt strange, Hamilton shared that he had been expecting the news to come out in Monza. He admitted that waking up to the official confirmation of his departure from Mercedes felt very surreal. This great driver expressed that, despite holding onto the news for so long, he was quite emotional but genuinely happy for Antonelli and the team. He expressed confidence that Antonelli would perform greatly.
The young Italian driver, just 18 years old, has impressed the German team with his maturity on the F2 tracks and his overall behavior, leading them to hire him and give him a chance. History has shown that bringing in young drivers can be a brilliant move.
Red Bull made a fantastic decision when they signed Max Verstappen as a teenager, helping to shape him into one of the greatest F1 drivers in the sport's history. The Dutchman is on track to break records previously set in the sport.
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