F1 Azerbaijan GP live updates – media day
Follow along for the day's Formula 1 updates from the Baku paddock at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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Media day over!
The media activities in the Baku paddock have now come to a close, so we'll take this opportunity to duck out. Thanks for following along, and stay glued to Motorsport.com and Autosport as we bring you all of the updates throughout the weekend.
Join us for our FP1 live session if you want updates from practice, and we'll have every session covered in live text form too. See you tomorrow!
General view
Photo by: Joe Portlock / LAT Images via Getty Images
Antonelli agrees with Wolff's "underwhelming" verdict
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains one of his protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli's biggest cheerleaders, but he was unequivocal in describing his Italian Grand Prix performance as "underwhelming".
This despite Antonelli finishing in the points – a rarity since Imola – and qualifying less than half a tenth off team-mate George Russell. Antonelli agrees.
"I think I understand this comment," he said in the FIA press conference ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. "Me and Toto, we're always very open to each other. And I think it was mainly about the race. Qualifying was actually pretty good, despite the off in FP2.
"But then in the race, especially on the hard tyre, I struggled a little bit. And also, I did the mistake on the start.
"'So I think it was mainly related to the race, which I agree on the comment, which wasn't the best. But as well, I took it with positivity, as fuel to do even better for this race weekend."
Turning Baku time: 2018
This was the race where Fernando Alonso miraculously finished seventh having ended the opening lap by peeling into the pits on effectively three wheels. Charles Leclerc also finished sixth for Sauber to score his first F1 points.
Kimi Raikkonen and Esteban Ocon made contact at Turn 2, while Sergey Sirotkin was pincered by Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg in the run to Turn 3. After a series of safety cars, the race settled down - at least, until Max Verstappen tried to block Daniel Ricciardo late at Turn 1 and led to both Red Bulls colliding.
Valtteri Bottas was on course to win, but a puncture forced him into a late retirement. The victory went to Lewis Hamilton.
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL33 with puncture on lap one
Photo by: Sutton Images
When Bulls collide: Ricciardo goes into the back of Verstappen
Photo by: Sutton Images
Komatsu: Bearman's Monza penalty 'fair', backs his driver to evade ban
We had Ollie Bearman's view on the Monza clash with Sainz that took him up to 10 penalty points earlier, and Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has largely agreed with Bearman's assessment.
Regardless, the Japanese praised Bearman for an otherwise-strong weekend in Monza, where he did "99% of the things right".
"Yeah, he has to behave all the time anyway - so to me, it doesn't really change the approach. You know, like the Monza penalty, that shouldn't have happened anyway, regardless of if you got zero points or ten points, because I think we had a good chance of scoring points.
"That was really a shame, because I think he was building up really, really well throughout the weekend. Our car wasn't the fastest. Other circuits, like we are more competitive, Monza, as you know, didn't build our specific Monza wing. His qualifying was actually amazing. You know, P11, only one hundredth of a P10. So he was really driving well, building up really well in the race.
"Again, apart from that incident, he drove really well. So it's really a shame that one incident is the one everyone talks about. So he's done, let's say, 99% of the things right."
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Norris unsurprised by negative response to McLaren's Monza swap: 'It's the world we live in'
Lando Norris explained that McLaren had reviewed its processes from Monza, but said the only real follow-up was to clarify some of the key points in the team's rules of engagement.
He said that both drivers had agreed with the scenarios, aligning with Piastri's comments from earlier today.
"All exactly as it was. Some things had to be clarified," Norris said.
"There were some things at that point that I didn't know about: the undercut from Leclerc [was something I didn't know] in my post-race interviews at the time. That also played a part in the reasoning of the decision that the team made.
"And the fact it was not just the pitstop which made that decision. It was more so the other things. We both agreed with it after and accepted. That's what we agreed as a team."
Unsurprised by negative reaction to McLaren swap: "Not [surprised] in the world that we live in nowadays. Because that's all people want to do, you know, is be negative and talk badly about others. So, honestly, not a surprise.
"You also need headlines. You also need people to read things. So, not surprised at all from my side. But it also doesn't affect us as a team. It's what you expect nowadays, I think, in the world that we live in. It's more negativity than ever positivity."
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Joe Portlock / LAT Images via Getty Images
Leclerc's Baku prowess: "An adrenaline I really enjoy"
Charles Leclerc has never won at Baku, although came close last year in his battle with Oscar Piastri. However, the Monegasque has taken pole in Azerbaijan for the last four years.
What makes him so strong on the Caspian coast? He's always been pretty handy on street courses, but reckons there's a little extra bit of adrenaline that kicks in on Baku's streets.
" I think in the past years I've been particularly strong on this track also against my team-mates, so I think there's most likely something down to track characteristics that fits my driving style a little bit better.
"I feel like I always feel very good in street tracks as well, but there's something more around the track that for some reason seems to be fitting me well, which is a good thing, but unfortunately that didn't bring me to win any races here, so that's the only thing I'm targeting this weekend.
"There's not one part that I prefer over the other, it's just the overall feeling of this track of being fully committed under braking, knowing that the smallest lock-up basically means the world because there's no way outside of the corner.
"This is a feeling that I really, really enjoy, especially in qualifying where you need to go full commitment and take all the risks, it's an adrenaline that I really enjoy."
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Turning Baku time: 2017
After a sedate debut, Baku's 2017 race (now the Azerbaijan Grand Prix) was a much wilder affair. Two early safety cars - one for Daniil Kvyat's broken Toro Rosso, another for debris - led to a contretemps between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel thought he was brake-tested by race leader Hamilton at Turn 15 and accidentally rear-ended the Mercedes - so responded by purposefully driving into the side of him to express his discontent. Vettel copped a 10-second stop/go penalty for 'dangerous driving' ("when did I do dangerous driving?", Vettel pleaded over the radio).
Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez then clashed on the restart, producing a red flag. After the restart, Hamilton had to make an unscheduled stop to secure his loose headrest, Vettel served his penalty, and Daniel Ricciardo (who had been 17th at one point) assumed the lead and took victory.
Lance Stroll was set to finish second, but was passed by Valtteri Bottas at the line.
Vettel and Hamilton came to blows under one of the myriad safety cars
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Stroll drinks from Ricciardo's sweaty boot on the podium
Photo by: Sutton Images
Restart action
Photo by: Sutton Images
Tsunoda not paying attention to future speculation
Yuki Tsunoda has brushed off the speculation over his future, stating that his focus is now on getting his long-run pace in order over the remaining eight races of the season.
Tsunoda says he is satisfied with his qualifying pace, but is struggling to match Verstappen on race pace.
"I think it's the same as what I said previously, I heard today there are a lot of apparent speculation, but I was not really watching the media to pay attention. I don't know.
"I just keep what I'm doing, keep doing the things that I'm doing so far and keep focusing on performance, and just show the progress of the races. My main priority is to stay here."
On where to make improvements: "Long runs, especially for now, the way I have to focus most of the times really, especially once I had a bit damage as well [in Monza].
"We also as a team worked hard to understand what's the kind of main issue causing the long run pace and actually if we work pre-practices, the things that we experience is things that even the team can't really explain it."
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Verstappen "staying out of trouble" in GT exploits for Nurburgring GT3 licence
Having received the necessary licence to to race GT3 cars at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Max Verstappen is plotting an entry into the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Verstappen raced a Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 CS at last weekend's four-hour ADAC ACAS Cup, in a car that was detuned as the four-time world champion was yet to earn a Permit A that is required to race with high-powered GT3 or GT4 machinery.
Due to damage to one of the two cars he was supposed to drive to earn a permit in just one single race, Verstappen did not fully meet the conditions to be awarded the DMSB Permit A. However, the relevant committee reviewed the case and ultimately decided to grant Verstappen the licence anyway.
"I mean, I know that I needed to get my permit, so I had to do that race in in a GT4 car. Of course the car itself is not the most exciting to drive, but on the other hand, you still learn a lot from a day like that. It rained a bit but it was dry, so you know you get more experience on the track - dealing with traffic as a slower car, is not always the easiest.
"And the rest, I was just staying out of trouble, really. At the end of the day, I think any kind of lap that you drive around there in any kind of car is always fun. When you try to push it a bit, you see a lot of what is happening around you."
On the experience of being in a different paddock: "The atmosphere is really good, a lot of passionate, endurance fans are always there anyway. And it's kind of my hobby as well, racing in other kinds of motorsport. Of course, my dream is eventually to do the 24-hour race, so I knew that that license needed to come. It was the perfect opportunity to do so."
#980 Lionspeed GP, Porsche Cayman GT4 - Max Verstappen
Photo by: Jan Brucke/VLN
Turning Baku time: 2016
For a bit of fun, we thought we'd look back at some past Baku races - starting in 2016, when the race was actually the European Grand Prix.
Nico Rosberg won to extend his lead in the world championship over Lewis Hamilton, while Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez completed the top three. Surprisingly, no safety cars emerged in Azerbaijan's first ever F1 race.
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid, leads Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB12
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
The race wasn't particularly memorable, aside from the self-congratulatory advertising banners around the circuit. "Well Done Baku" and "Baku Welcomed All Of Us" adorned some of the concrete walls...as seen below:
Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-16
Photo by: Haas F1 Team
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF16-H
Photo by: Pirelli
Baku city scape
Fun fact: Baku lies at sea level - 2250m below the altitude of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. That's pretty much the length of the Neftchilar Avenue run out of Turn 16 and into Turn 1.
An aerial view of Baku
Gasly on helping Tsunoda: 'He must figure out best way to perform with limitations'
Pierre Gasly says that he's been offering advice to his former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda on how to manage the pressure of trying to earn a reprieve with Red Bull into 2026.
Tsunoda has struggled with the RB21 chassis, and the pressure continues to mount on the Japanese driver as speculation links Isack Hadjar to his seat for next year.
"Every single situation is quite specific, and we all manage it or process it in different ways. I think it kind of depends how you are as an individual, as an athlete; what might work for you, what may not work for you, and the sort of support and environment you need around you.
"This is stuff that I talk with Yuki [about] obviously very openly, we have a good relationship and I think ultimately he needs to work out what's the best way of focusing on the performance. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters when you're in a competitive sport is the performance you put out there, and you've got to figure out, with the limitations you're facing, what's your best chances of displaying your skills in the in the best possible way.
"There's always going to be a lot of talks, a lot of noise around and that you need to find a way that it just doesn't get to your head. You've got to wake up every day thinking "how am I going to get better at what I'm doing", whether you're going through better times or challenging times, that's the only question that will push you forward.
"Hopefully that's what he manages to do until the end of the year."
Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team
Photo by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images
Lawson aiming to stay with Racing Bulls; other seats "locked in"
Liam Lawson says his focus is on securing another year with Racing Bulls, citing a lack of options elsewhere - which rather implies that he is either not exploring an Alpine drive for next year, or that the team is already sewn up.
"As drivers, the main thing for us is to be in Formula 1 so we're focused on securing a seat, and honestly that's my goal at the moment. In terms of other teams, I think pretty much everyone's nearly either locked in or has a pretty good idea of what they're doing next year anyway. Right now it's mostly talks to Red Bull and trying to secure a seat where I am at the moment.
"Beyond that, I think right now it's at a point where I think most of them are pretty much gone, I would say."
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Piastri on Monza: "I didn't deserve to finish second"
Almost weeks after McLaren created ructions with its positional swap between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, after Norris took a slow pitstop, Piastri has had his chance to reflect on the move.
The Australian said that he and McLaren had clarified certain aspects of the decision, and Piastri himself came to the conclusion that he felt he hadn't necessarily earned second place anyway given his pace over the weekend.
"Obviously it was a highly talked about moment, but we've had a lot of discussions, clarified a lot of things and we know how we're going to go racing going forward, which is the most important thing. What's happened is done and I'm excited to go racing here.
Asked if he'd have given the place up to secure victory instead of second, Piastri stated: "I don't know, it wasn't in that scenario. Would it have made it a bit more difficult? Probably yes, but I don't know if the outcome would have been different. But I'm not planning on finding myself in that position.
"It was a weekend where I deserved to finish third, I didn't deserve to finish second because of the pace I had. I was quick at certain points but not quick enough the whole weekend; ultimately that's kind of my main takeaway from that.
"Mark [Webber, his manager] is very much on the same same page with that. I've discussed with the team and with Mark about what happened and we're all aligned going forward."
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Today's gallery of Baku images
Want to check out today's image selection from some of F1's best photographers?
Check out our gallery right here.
Paddock atmosphere
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
2026 F1 driver market: Who's in the frame at Alpine?
Alonso on "bad luck" after Monza retirement
Fernando Alonso was set for a seventh-place finish in Monza before his front suspension failed out of the Variante Ascari, which Aston Martin believes was due to a stone strike from the gravel.
The two-time champion was again left to rue his 'bad luck' and has calculated that he's lost 22 points so far this year. At least it's not as bad as his final Alpine season...
"I mean, these things can happen, but for sure I think I remember 2022 which I think the car was not too bad, the Alpine car, we were competitive and I had 12 DNFs [slight exaggeration, it was five], always in the races that I was P5, P6, so I think that year the team counted like 55, 60 points lost, and this year we are already up to 22 I think.
"It's a shame that we cannot finish the races on merit when we are in the points and then when we are slow because we are uncompetitive, normally things are always smooth and nice until the checkered flag and we score no points.
"But this is the way it is and this is the nature of the sport. As long as if next year we have a good car and normal luck. We don't ask for good luck, but normal luck is OK."
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Russell absent from Baku media day
George Russell was scheduled to be in today's press conference, but will miss out through illness.
Mercedes expects the Briton to be back in action tomorrow, and Kimi Antonelli will assume his place in the press conference.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Colapinto on 2024 Baku memories
In his second-ever F1 race, Franco Colapinto finished eighth in last year's Baku event after stepping up to Williams' line-up.
A year later, Colapinto reflected on his headline result - one that he is yet to match with Alpine.
"Of course, that was an amazing weekend and only my second race. I think it's one of the nicest memories to to come straight here after Monza and into my first street race as well. It was an amazing weekend and amazing memories from that Q3 and the points that we scored."
On his chances at Baku in 2025: "We know the limitations of this year's car, so we know we will struggle a little bit here, Of course, very long straights and the package is not the best for this track, but I think generally we can try to maximise what we have.
"We are working hard. Monza was very tough for us a team, it was not easy. We really struggled and it was a pretty long weekend, but we come here, again with some hope and trying to bring some performance. We did some good steps at the factory, the simulator, we found some things that maybe can work."
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Bearman on Monza penalty: "A tough one to take"
Ollie Bearman sits in the precarious situation of being within two points of a race ban, after a clash with Carlos Sainz at Monza. He reckons he didn't get left any space on the inside at the Variante della Roggia chicane, but can't dispute the wording of the current rules on racing.
"I think as a racing driver and as a fan as well, maybe it's tough to take that penalty because, from my side, at no point was I out of control.
"I was just racing to the to the corner with another driver and and then I didn't get left any space at all. At the end that's what the rules state so I do feel a little hard done by.
"I guess now if I'm on on the outside I'll just go for it. That's how the rules are, and you know it's my fault for getting the penalty regardless of if we agree with the rules or not. But it's a tough one to take. That's not how any of us have grown up, racing really."
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Hadjar 'doesn't care' about Red Bull rumours
Isack Hadjar has been linked with a promotion to the Red Bull line-up for 2026 after an impressive debut year. The Frenchman took his first F1 podium at Zandvoort, having started fourth.
Hadjar says he has "an idea" of what he'll be doing next year, but says he doesn't much care for the speculation.
"I have an idea, but I don't know. I don't care [about the reports], I really don't care. I had like 5 days off at home. I had other things to do than scrolling on Instagram."
Why Hadjar expects a tough Baku: "I think the tarmac looks similar to what we had in Canada, and it was our worst race of the season.
"We've had graining straight away and we're on the softest compound, This year, so there's going to be some challenges, I think, but the raw pace on one lap should be strong."
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Sainz: Zandvoort penalty review "a good sign"
Last Friday, Williams had its right of review hearing over Carlos Sainz's clash with Liam Lawson at Zandvoort - and following the review of the incident, Sainz's penalty was overturned. It did not materially affect the result of the race, given Sainz and Lawson fell to the back of the field, but Sainz now loses the two awarded penalty points from his licence.
"I was obviously quite upset about the whole situation, because I was very convinced that we had a point and we had an opportunity, and especially when I went after the race to speak to the stewards, that they were actually quite open to the discussion and to let me give my POV.
"They were, yeah, I could tell that they also had a good conversation and realisation that maybe the judgement was not fully correct, and the fact that the FIA gave us the opportunity and there were enough mechanisms to open the discussion again, I think it's a positive step, and the fact that they even took the opportunity to revert or cancel the penalty points.
"I can just say it's a good sign. I'm not saying every case and every scenario should be the same, but I think cases that are pretty obvious like that one, I think it's good to see that there's mechanisms and ways to revert."
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Albon expects Williams "to be talking about tyres all weekend" in Baku
In recent weekends, Williams feels it has underdelivered in qualifying due to difficulty in preparing their tyres for a hot lap. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon qualified 13th and 14th in Monza, despite expectations that the team would be strong.
Albon recovered to take seventh in the race, but says Baku now presents an opportunity to shake off its worries and experiment with tyre preparation.
"I feel like it's going to be a really similar story to Monza, where we're going to be talking about tyres all weekend. We have had a week and a bit to sit on it and go again for this weekend. Got all different set-ups and out-laps and everything to try.
"I think once the tyres are warm and where they should be, we're good. I think partly that's why our race pace has been so strong. The reason why we are quick in the race and why we are slow in qualifying. But on paper, this track should suit us."
Alexander Albon, Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Bortoleto on the challenge of Baku
Gabriel Bortoleto will do his first F1 race on the Azerbaijani streets (although he finished fifth and fourth in Baku during his title-winning F2 season), but hopes for a carryover in form from Monza - where he finished eighth last weekend.
"I think obviously it's kind of a difference. The track layout in Monza. But it's still, let's say, a low downforce track. In the sense, like, very big straights, high top speed.
"I think it can be positive. The midfield is very tight. So if you find a very good balance with your car and good performance out of it, you can be there. But it also depends, you know, how you feel with the car and the setup you develop through the weekend.
Bortoleto's views on street circuits: "I like street circuits overall. I think Formula 1 cars are quite big nowadays, so it's always nice to be racing in circuits. But it's also nice to have a bit of a difference in the calendar. We have some of that type and some of this type. And it makes things competitive and interesting as well. So it's nice to be once a year here in Baku and drive in these streets."
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Photo by: Jayce Illman / Getty Images
Baku to basics
Good morning, and thanks for joining us as we kick off the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku. The traditional European season is now over, and now the flyaway races in Asia and the Americas await!
We'll take you events as they happen in the Baku paddock, as the drivers' media sessions are under way.
