(Baku) Eight points difference, that’s all. This weekend in the streets of Baku, the scene of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Red Bull could for the first time in more than two years lose the lead in the constructors’ championship to McLaren, or even Ferrari.
And what if the time had come for the team of reigning champion Max Verstappen to come down from its pedestal? On the eve of the 17e round (out of 24) of the season, the Austrian team is under pressure since over the last five rounds, it has only scored 91 points – whereas McLaren has scored 170 thanks to the victories of its drivers Lando Norris (at the Dutch GP) and Oscar Piastri (in Hungary).
“We have a car that is competitive in all situations and two excellent drivers who regularly score good points for the team,” said McLaren boss Andrea Stella.
Solid performances that could allow him to regain the lead in the constructors’ championship this weekend – since up to 44 points will be at stake during the traditional Sunday meeting.
In the drivers’ championship, Verstappen still has a comfortable lead of 62 points, but sees his runner-up Norris come back race after race.
The last round – in Italy at the beginning of September – “was difficult (Verstappen finished 6the “of the GP, editor’s note) and our priority is to get back into shape,” admitted the world champion, whose last victory dates back to June, during the Spanish GP.
Ferrari in the running
The Austrian team, which has won the last three editions of the Azerbaijan GP, will also be able to count on its other driver, Sergio Perez, who holds the record for victories (two) on the circuit.
The Mexican has not won since April 2023 – in Baku, to be precise – and is having a difficult season. He is only 7e in the championship, 160 points behind his teammate Verstappen, – but hopes to get back into the race with eight GPs remaining in the season.
“Street circuits suit my driving style,” said Perez. “It will also be interesting to see how the RB20 (Red Bull’s 2024 car) reacts there, testing will be particularly important for us and then it will be a matter of putting into practice everything we have learned about the car in recent weeks.”
PHOTO ANDREJ ISAKOVIC, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Sergio Perez
However, beware of Ferrari, which arrives in Azerbaijan full of enthusiasm after the victory of its driver Charles Leclerc at home in Italy, following the recent developments made to the SF-24.
A success that allowed the Scuderia, 3e of the championship, to return to 39 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
“We are in great shape after our victory at Monza and we are determined to continue in this vein,” assured Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur, who nevertheless anticipates “a very close fight between the top four teams” in the championship.
150e F1 GP for Ocon
Because in addition to the first three forces of the plateau, a performance of Mercedes, 4e overall, is also not to be ruled out in the streets of the Azeri capital, where the outcome can be unpredictable (five different winners in six GPs contested since 2017).
The German team, whose last victory dates back to the end of July in Belgium, arrives in Azerbaijan with the hope of getting closer to the leading group, in particular Ferrari which is 115 points behind it.
“We are going to Baku with the aim of achieving a better performance than at Zandvoort (during the Dutch GP, editor’s note) and Monza,” admitted Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “These two races were difficult for us, our pace was not as high as before the summer break (after the Belgian GP, editor’s note) and several of our competitors took a step forward.”
For the French team Alpine, the time will still be to get things back on track after another disappointing weekend in Italy for its Norman drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, who will take his 150e start in the elite Sunday at 1 p.m.