F1 Is Back In The Land Of Fire
Formula One makes its way back to Baku for the fourth race of the season. The race in Azerbaijan has never seen a repeat winner, and that is no surprise, as it is a race always filled with drama.
The 2017 Azerbaijan GP might just be one of the best, if not the best, races we’ve ever had at Baku. During the 2017 season, the race was rated among the top ten races of the last ten seasons.
The entire grand prix was full of moments that are truly unforgettable. Let’s have a look at the most race-defining ones.
1. The Honey Badger
The mighty Daniel Ricciardo was the man to watch on that day. The Australian had started 10th in his Red Bull, dropped all the way down to 17th, then charged through the field to score his fifth grand prix win. One of the moves that granted him this win was a triple overtake that also earned him the award for best overtake of the season. Following an early Safety Car period, the Honey Badger used the slipstream to perfection on Baku’s long straight where he overtook Felipe Massa, Nico Hülkenberg and Lance Stroll into Turn 1, moving from sixth to third in the process. Ricciardo took the lead soon after as both drivers in front of him pitted.
2. Title Rivals Clash
The two drivers that were in front of Ricciardo following his triple overtake, were the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel who provided their fair share of entertainment as well. The two had a controversial incident on Lap 19. Hamilton was hit from behind by Ferrari rival Vettel, who claimed that the Mercedes driver had brake-tested him. Vettel made it a point to show his infuriation by coming up alongside Hamilton and then driving into him. Following the incident, replays and telemetry showed that Hamilton had not applied the brakes, and Vettel was then awarded a 10-second Stop/Go Penalty for dangerous driving.
3. The Finn and the Young Canadian
Bottas managed to secure a spot on the podium after having to take a new nose on Lap 2. He secured his podium with multiple moves to eventually make it to second, with his most nail-biting overtake being when he passed Lance Stroll just before the finish line on the final lap. Stroll, who was 18 at the time, was the youngest rookie to get on a podium. He was also the first for Williams since Canada in 2016. The Williams driver recieved high praises as he had dealt with the pressure of the final laps with high levels of maturity.
The 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is only days away, with hopes that Baku will continue with the legacy of providing different race winners each year as well as drama. However, last year’s Baku winner Max Verstappen and his rocketship of the RB19 are looking to be the favourites to take the chequered flag. Although, it must be considered that his teammate Segio Perez, the King of street circuits, might have a chance of victory at the Land of Fire.
