BAKU IGNITES THE FORMULA 1!

Formula 1, one of the world’s most expensive sports, once again unfolded in Baku. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held for the ninth time, will be remembered for its new records.

This year’s opening ceremony drew particular attention. The national anthem of Azerbaijan was performed by the world-renowned khanendeh and People’s Artist of the Republic, Alim Gasimov, together with his daughter Fargana. Their unique performance was accompanied by a special stage composition and visual effects symbolising the tricolour of the Azerbaijani flag. The ceremony also featured a national emblem – the eight-pointed star.

Baku brings Verstappen his second victory

Interest in Formula 1 in Azerbaijan, which first took place here in 2016, was especially high this year. To meet the demand, organisers installed additional grandstands along the track, bringing spectator attendance to 20,000. As always, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was not without dramatic accidents. Last season’s winner, Oscar Piastri, crashed out on the very first lap of the final, leaving his fans deeply disappointed. Red Bull Racing quickly seized the opportunity: their driver, Max Verstappen, delivered a brilliant performance and emerged as the winner of the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – his second triumph in Baku.

Starting from pole position, the Red Bull Racing driver led every lap, finishing more than 14 seconds ahead of George Russell of Mercedes, who came second. Carlos Sainz of Williams took third place, earning his first podium with his new team.

Fourth place went to young Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Fifth was Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, who achieved the best result of his career. Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished sixth, securing one of Red Bull Racing’s strongest results of the season. Lando Norris (McLaren) came seventh and, following the crash of his teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, reduced the points gap to 25. The crash also ended Piastri’s impressive streak of 42 consecutive races in which he had scored points.

Ferrari’s drivers – Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc – finished eighth and ninth respectively, denying McLaren a Constructors’ Cup victory in Baku. Completing the top ten was Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls.

The trophies for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix winners were presented by Baku Mayor Eldar Azizov, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gaibov, President of the Automobile Federation Anar Anar Alakbarov, and CEO of Baku City Circuit Operations Company Magsud Farzaliyev.

Crashes, full houses, and record broadcasts

Despite the crash in Baku, Oscar Piastri continues to lead the Formula 1 World Championship standings with 324 points. His teammate Lando Norris follows with 299 points. Verstappen’s victory in Baku allowed him to narrow the gap – he now has 255 points.

Once again, the Baku City Circuit thrilled Formula 1 fans with intense and unpredictable racing, confirming its status as one of the most dramatic tracks of the season. Over the course of three days, 90,000 spectators attended the event, covered by around 300 local and international media representatives.

True to its reputation, the Baku track saw multiple accidents. On the first day of qualifying, the red flag was raised six times, temporarily halting the session due to on-track incidents. As a result, qualifying ended with a 58-minute delay.

The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix also achieved record-breaking television ratings in the US. The live broadcast of the main race, held on September 21, attracted nearly 1.1 million viewers – an all-time high for the Azerbaijani leg in American broadcasting. The previous record was set in 2021 with 970,000 viewers, followed by 865,000 in 2024.

From euphoria to disappointment: two faces of the Baku Grand Prix

The Grand Prix winner, Max Verstappen, said he would never forget the Azerbaijani capital. According to him, Baku will always remain the city of good fortune: "It reminded me of the 2023 race. It was incredible. Victory is simply an amazing feeling. My car was fantastic today. I won’t forget Baku. It’s the second time I’ve left this city as a winner."

Championship leader and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri commented on his misfortune in Baku. In an interview with Sky Sports, he admitted he had misjudged the airflow: "Of course, it wasn’t my best day. I reacted too early at the start – a simple, stupid mistake. The crash happened for the same reason: I misread the airflow, entered the corner at too high a speed, and that was it. Grip levels were low, but I should have understood that. It’s entirely my fault – I failed to make the right decisions at the right moment. It’s very upsetting."

Thus, Baku once again became the stage for one of the most thrilling Formula 1 races. Under the new agreement signed with the Baku City Circuit, the Azerbaijani capital has secured the right to host this prestigious and exhilarating event for another five years.

Starting from the next season, the Formula 1 cost cap for teams will rise from $135 million to $215 million. According to official information, this regulation will take effect in 2026. The existing exceptions will remain in force: driver salaries and expenses of the three highest-paid team members will not count towards the limit. FIA Financial Regulations Director Federico Lodi noted that this is not an increase in capital but rather an update to the calculation methodology.