It is a short walk to the first corner, and you can get started!

In the Constructors’ Championship, everything is at stake. Red Bull currently leads the overall standings with 446 points, but McLaren, who have not won since 2008, are close behind with 438 points, while Ferrari are not out of the race yet with 407 points.

And off we go.

The introductory round is almost at the door.

It is quite windy in the city of wind, but it’s unclear which way the wind is coming from. More news as soon as I have it!

Do we think Leclerc has what it takes to win here? The Ferrari seems to be in good condition, but Piastri reckons he has a chance of beating it at the start.

Oliver Bearman looks happy and why shouldn’t it be? At 19, not only is he racing at this level, but he also overtook his teammate Nico Hülkenberg in qualifying. He will feel invincible and like the world is his; good for him.

Time for an anthem!

Today it is beautiful and sunny in Baku – and warm too. The tension is rising as the cars gather at the start.

Another possible factor: in the last four races at this track we have seen either a safety car or a virtual safety car. I dare say that the boy Nozza would accept that today.

We must not forget that there are drivers who are subject to team instructions today. Piastri has been instructed to do everything he can in his McLaren to disrupt Verstappen, while Pérez must let his teammate pass, assuming George Russell is overtaken first.

Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, will view the overtaking situation extremely calmly. However, he also knows that he has been on pole four times in a row in this race and has not yet been able to convert any of them into a win.

The problem for the drivers – and Norris in particular – is that overtaking is not easy on the Baku City Circuit. He assumes that strategy will play an important role, but he also knows that his car is fast enough to cause damage if he manages to get a clear run at some point.

The grid

preamble