BAKU (Reuters) – Formula One championship chief Max Verstappen has unfinished business to deal with at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix whereas additionally seeking to reassert himself as Red Bull’s lead driver.
The Dutchman was heading for victory on the Baku avenue observe final yr when a tyre exploded and pitched him into the barrier on the excessive pace run alongside town’s Caspian Sea waterfront.
Mexican group mate Sergio Perez took the win as a substitute and returns triumphant and as a possible title contender after his victory two weeks in the past in Monaco.
Verstappen will probably be decided to cease him turning into the primary driver to win twice in Baku.
“I’m trying ahead to returning to Baku, we’ve got some unfinished business there after final yr,” stated the 24-year-old who has a 9 level lead over Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc with Perez an extra six behind.
“Last yr was unfortunate, easy as that,” he stated.
“It was a really painful one, however that occurs. That’s racing… it’s completely different automobiles, completely different tyres (this time) and we go once more.”
Perez, who was additionally on the rostrum in Baku twice whereas racing for Force India, is in the type of his life and with a brand new two-year contract with Red Bull freshly signed.
The 6km lengthy Baku avenue observe, a mixture of flat-out blasts and tight corners lined by unforgiving obstacles, is famed for unpredictable races and has produced 5 completely different winners in 5 years on the calendar.
Leclerc is acquainted with the observe’s pitfalls, having crashed whereas on track for pole place in 2019.
The Monegasque and Ferrari, chasing a primary title since 2008, will need the weekend to go completely after potential wins slipped via their fingers in Monaco and Spain.
Seven occasions world champion Lewis Hamilton may also be eager to make amends after failing to capitalise on Verstappen’s retirement final yr when he went from second to fifteenth in Baku, having by accident triggered a ‘brake magic’ operate on his steering wheel.
His Mercedes group are essentially the most profitable in Baku, with three wins. A fourth seems a distant prospect except the observe throws up one other shock.
“Baku usually produces some enjoyable and loopy observe motion, and the structure generates good racing alternatives,” stated Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff.
“So, let’s see if it lives as much as its popularity this weekend.”
The chance of podium look by a midfield group is all the time there. Apart from Perez’s Force India exploits, Sebastian Vettel was second final yr for Aston Martin with Pierre Gasly third for AlphaTauri.
Lance Stroll’s first top-three consequence got here in Baku with Williams in 2017.
(Reporting by Abhishek Takle; enhancing by Toby Davis)
