10 Unforgettable Moments from a Decade of Racing in Baku

This year marks a decade since Formula 1 first took to the streets of Baku, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has since become a fixture for high drama and unexpected outcomes. With the upcoming race on the horizon, let's revisit ten unforgettable moments that have unfolded in this unique city circuit.

2017 – Vettel vs. Hamilton: A Clash of Champions The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is infamous for the heated exchange between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. After a Safety Car period, Vettel tapped Hamilton's car, believing he had been brake-tested. Vettel's frustration boiled over, leading him to pull alongside and collide with Hamilton. The stewards were not amused, penalizing Vettel with a stop-and-go penalty. Hamilton, on the other hand, faced his own issues with a loose headrest, ultimately affecting his race. Despite the tension, Vettel later apologized, mending fences with his rival.

2017 – Ricciardo’s Heroics Daniel Ricciardo's 2017 race in Baku started on a sour note with a crash in qualifying and early brake issues. However, he bounced back spectacularly. At a race restart, Ricciardo executed a brilliant maneuver, overtaking Felipe Massa's Williams and Nico Hulkenberg's Renault in one swoop. This daring move set the stage for his eventual victory as Vettel and Hamilton's issues unfolded.

2018 – Red Bull’s Collision Course In 2018, Red Bull teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were engaged in a fierce battle. They exchanged positions multiple times and even made contact. The inevitable happened when Ricciardo rear-ended Verstappen, taking both out of the race. It was a dramatic end to what had been a tense intra-team duel.

2018 – Grosjean’s Calamity Romain Grosjean's 2018 race was going well until a bizarre incident behind the Safety Car. While warming his tyres, he inadvertently switched his brake balance, causing him to crash into the wall. His engineer speculated about external interference, but Grosjean admitted it was an error on his part.

2018 – Bottas’ Misfortune Valtteri Bottas seemed set for victory in 2018, only for his right-rear tyre to fail mere laps from the finish, handing the win to Hamilton. It was a bitter blow in a challenging year for Bottas, his hopes of a win shredded along with the Pirelli rubber.

2019 – Leclerc’s Self-Critique Charles Leclerc was flying in 2019 until he misjudged a corner in qualifying and hit the wall. His radio message, "I am stupid," became iconic. Despite later pole positions in Baku, a race win remains elusive for the Ferrari driver.

2021 – Verstappen’s Frustration Leading the race in 2021, Max Verstappen's tyre gave way, sending him into a high-speed crash on the pit straight. He walked away unscathed but visibly frustrated, kicking the offending tyre. This was the second such failure during the race, with Lance Stroll suffering a similar fate earlier.

2021 – Hamilton’s Brake Blunder The same race saw Hamilton’s chance slip away due to a brake bias error during a restart. A lock-up sent him straight on at Turn 1, dropping him to the back of the pack. In his own words, "I clicked a switch and it basically switches the brakes off."

2024 – Perez and Sainz in a Tangle Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz collided in 2024 while fighting for position, both ending their races against the wall. Perez, who had shown promise that weekend, saw his efforts undone in a dramatic finish.

2025 – Six Red Flags in Qualifying The 2025 qualifying session in Baku was chaotic, featuring a staggering six red flags. Notable incidents involved drivers like Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri, each contributing to the disruption. It marked the end of Leclerc's pole streak at the circuit and a rocky outing for Piastri.

Baku’s unpredictable nature has made it a thrilling highlight on the F1 calendar, with each year bringing its own brand of excitement and drama.