The qualifying on Saturday for the Azerbaijan GP left a somewhat scrambled starting grid, with title contender Lando Norris far behind and leader Max Verstappen only in sixth. Several drivers seem to be out of position for better or worse, and any coincidence at the end of the race this Sunday could be due to chance. The urban circuit of Baku often results in wild races where anything can happen, and here we review the best strategies for
F1 betting sees another victory for Charles Leclerc as possible, as he has started from pole in three editions of the Azerbaijan GP without winning, but the Monegasque will have to nail the pace… and the strategies.
What are the best tire strategies for the F1 race in Baku?
According to tire manufacturer Pirelli from the data it has been collecting during the Azerbaijan GP, the best option for the Sunday race in Baku is to go for a one-stop strategy, although a two-stop strategy is also indicated.
But… what tires should you start on for the Azerbaijan race and what tire changes should you make during the pit stops?
Pirelli states that the best strategy for the Baku race is to start on medium tires, the yellows, and keep them for between 14 and 24 laps, when the pit window opens and Pirelli recommends fitting hards (the whites) until the end.
Another possibility, for drivers starting on hards in Azerbaijan, is to do a long first stint, between 27 and 37 laps, and then switch to mediums until the end.
And for drivers who want to do two stops in Baku? Pirelli recommends starting on mediums, stopping early (between lap 7 and 15), fitting hards, and stopping again between laps 24 and 32 to fit another set of hards.
Pirelli advises against using soft tires in Baku, given this year’s more abrasive track conditions. But be aware, as this is a race with a high percentage of Safety Cars due to accidents that occur; depending on when it happens, we may see those red Pirelli tires.
The best pit stop strategies for the F1 race in Baku
| Number of Stops | What tire to start with? | When to stop? What tire to fit? | Second Pit Stop |
| One Stop | Mediums (yellow) | Between lap 14 and 24 (fit hards) | NO |
| One Stop | Hards (white) | Between lap 27 and 37 (fit mediums) | NO |
Two Stops | Mediums (yellow) | Between lap 7 and 15 (fit hards) | Between lap 24 and 32 (fit hards) |
What tires does each driver have left for the Azerbaijan GP race?
Having fallen in Q1, Norris is the only driver with new sets of soft tires available, although they are not expected to be used unless the race changes suddenly. The drivers from the top four teams (Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren) each have a new set of mediums and two sets of hards, except for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who only have one new set of hards and one used set of mediums instead.
Fernando Alonso has no new tire sets for the Baku race (although the ‘used’ ones may have few laps), and he has two sets of hards, one set of mediums, and three sets of softs.
Franco Colapinto has two sets of new hards, one set of new mediums, and three sets of used softs.