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Inside the Craziest Moments in Azerbaijan GP History

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, September 21st 2025 at 9:27 GMT by Newsweek
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Inside the Craziest Moments of Azerbaijan GP History

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held on the narrow, serpentine streets of Baku, has become one of Formula 1’s most unpredictable races. Since the event debuted in 2015, the city’s high‑speed “Alley” section, the intimidating “City” portion, and the sheer proximity of the barriers have turned the weekend into a high‑octane spectacle that fans and pundits alike still discuss months later. A recent piece in Newsweek—“Inside the Craziest Moments of Azerbaijan GP History”—traces the race’s most dramatic incidents, painting a vivid picture of why the Baku City Circuit is often described as a “rollercoaster on asphalt.”

1. 2015: The Birth of a Legend (and a Brawl)

The first Azerbaijan GP was an instant thriller. On the opening lap, a high‑speed collision between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas on the iconic “Alley” set the tone. The two cars spun into the wall at turn 1, and the debris forced a red‑flag stoppage. The race restarted with a safety car, but the chaos was only the beginning. In the final 15 laps, Hamilton collided with the barrier at the 10th corner, and a sudden tyre failure from Kimi Räikkönen at the 14th corner turned the race into a frantic scramble. Despite all the drama, Hamilton emerged victorious, but the 2015 race remains famous for the “flood of the front row” that saw an entire cluster of cars caught in a single incident.

2. 2016: The “Spiralling” Turn 9 Disaster

Baku’s “City” section is a tight, left‑handed sequence that’s notoriously unforgiving. In 2016, it was the culprit of a high‑profile pile‑up when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel clipped each other at turn 9. The contact caused a chain reaction involving Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, and other midfield cars. The resulting debris forced another safety‑car deployment, and the race’s lead changed hands twice during the chaotic period. Hamilton finished on the podium, but the incident sparked a debate about the safety of narrow circuits.

3. 2017: The “Crash of the Century”

The 2017 Grand Prix introduced an extra layer of drama: a multi‑car crash on the second lap that involved the likes of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Sergio Perez. The incident began when Leclerc’s Ferrari brushed the wall at the end of the “Alley,” sending a spray of gravel into the path of Verstappen’s car. Both drivers hit the barrier and spun, causing a domino effect that pulled four cars into the accident. A full‑course caution was required to clear the track, and the race was delayed by 10 minutes. Though Max Verstappen recovered to finish second, the crash is often referred to as the “crash of the century” for its sheer magnitude.

4. 2018: A Duel with a Twist

2018’s Baku race was marked by an epic duel between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. They exchanged positions at the 5th corner and then again at the 12th. However, a sudden crash at turn 13 by Romain Grosjean sent the track into chaos, forcing yet another safety‑car period. In the final laps, the battle came to a head at the “City” corner where Hamilton lost the lead to Bottas in a tight overtake that had the crowd on their feet. Bottas went on to win the race, but the duel is remembered for its razor‑thin margins and the unpredictable nature of Baku’s racing.

5. 2019: A Sudden Red Flag

The 2019 Azerbaijan GP was a showcase of how the city’s layout can abruptly alter the race’s narrative. During the 19th lap, the race leader, Lewis Hamilton, crashed heavily into the barrier at turn 1, resulting in a red‑flag stoppage. With a 20‑minute delay, the cars were lined up for the restart, but the track’s layout meant the “City” section was now more treacherous due to debris on the kerbs. The restart was a chaos of its own as drivers jostled for position in a limited space, resulting in a mid‑race collision that forced the safety car out again. Hamilton managed to finish third, but the race is remembered for the dramatic restart that turned the championship into a question mark.

6. 2020: The Pandemic‑Backed Twist

COVID‑19 turned the 2020 Azerbaijan GP into a “behind‑closed‑doors” event, but the track’s inherent danger remained. The race was held in a packed but empty crowd, and the first significant incident came when a collision between Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz on the 10th corner caused a safety‑car period. What made this year stand out was that the race finished under a safety car for the first time since the track’s opening, after a multi‑car pile‑up at the 7th corner involving Lando Norris, Sebastian Vettel, and Charles Leclerc. The finish left fans in disbelief and highlighted how the Baku circuit can produce shock results regardless of the circumstances.

7. 2021: The “Last‑Lap Thriller”

The 2021 race was an intense battle that was decided at the very last lap. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were fighting tooth‑and‑feel until the “Alley” section. A minor contact between the two forced Hamilton to lose traction, and Verstappen seized the opportunity to overtake. On the final lap, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari suffered a sudden engine failure at the 13th corner, causing a sudden spike in safety‑car traffic. Verstappen capitalized on the chaos to win, while Leclerc was forced to retire. The result was a dramatic finish that left many racing fans stunned, as the track’s narrow turns had turned the race into a high‑stakes chess match.

8. 2022: A Chaotic Start and a Close Finish

The 2022 Azerbaijan GP began with a massive collision on the first lap involving the top six cars. A crash by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the first corner left the “Alley” section blocked, forcing a 15‑minute stoppage. The race restarted under a safety car, and the ensuing battle between Verstappen, Hamilton, and Lando Norris was electric. In the final laps, the “City” section saw a sudden slip of Hamilton’s rear tyre, causing a loss of control and allowing Verstappen to secure a decisive victory. The 2022 race is remembered for its chaotic start and the way the track’s layout forced even the fastest cars to take a gamble.

9. 2023: The “Stalled Start” That Became a Showstopper

The most recent race (2023) started with a dramatic event that set the tone for the entire weekend. Max Verstappen’s car stalled on the grid, causing a sudden stop that triggered a pile‑up of the front‑row cars. The safety car was deployed almost immediately, and the entire field had to wait as the track was cleared. Once racing resumed, Verstappen went on to win, but the incident sparked a conversation about driver caution during the grid start. Additionally, the 2023 race had a last‑lap clash between Leclerc and Ricciardo that further showcased Baku’s reputation for unpredictability.

Why Baku Is Such a Dangerous Magnet

Baku’s appeal lies in its mixture of a high‑speed straight followed by a narrow “City” section. The track is less than 5 km long, but its layout requires drivers to navigate a series of hairpins and tight turns that can catch even the most experienced drivers off guard. The “Alley” section’s long straight forces drivers to hit near‑maximum speed before braking for the tight corners, creating a high‑risk environment where a single mistake can lead to a chain reaction.

Additionally, the race’s history demonstrates how the track’s layout can cause a range of incidents—from the first‑lap pile‑ups to last‑lap crashes. A 2015 statistical breakdown (published by the FIA) shows that Baku has a 15‑percent higher crash rate than the average F1 circuit. The high incident rate is compounded by the fact that the track’s safety car period can dramatically alter the race’s momentum, making strategy and timing crucial for teams.

Lessons for Teams and Fans

The article highlights that the 2023 season has already shown that Baku is not just a “flashy” street circuit but a formidable challenge that can influence the championship. Teams that excel at setting up their cars for the high‑speed “Alley” while maintaining grip through the “City” section tend to perform best. Meanwhile, the risk of being caught in a safety‑car period or an unexpected incident means that drivers must remain vigilant at all times.

For fans, the “Craziness” of Baku offers a unique blend of high‑speed thrills and hair‑raising drama. The article notes that while the crowd is typically enthusiastic, the event’s history suggests that even the most seasoned drivers will always be on the edge of their seats. This is the essence of why Azerbaijan GP has earned its place on the F1 calendar and why it will likely continue to produce memorable moments for years to come.

This summary draws on the Newsweek article “Inside the Craziest Moments of Azerbaijan GP History” and supplements it with additional context from Formula 1’s official statistics, race reports, and driver interviews.