The fourth round of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship in Azerbaijan has opened in Baku.
Formula 1 first and second practice sessions will beheld today at 13:00 and 17:00 local time respectively (12:00 and 16:00 MSK). The third practice session will start tomorrow at 14:00 local time (13:00 MSK), Formula 1 qualifying will be held at 17:00 local time (16:00 MSK). Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on the last day of the races on April 29 with a start at 16:10 local time (15:10 MSK).
Twenty drivers from 10 teams are competing in practice session, including such famous drivers as Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas and others.
The Practice Session of the FIA Formula-2 Championship also has started today. The teams are as follows: RUSSIAN TIME (Artem Markelov and Tadasuke Makino); PERTAMINA PREMA THEODORE RACING (Sean Gelael and Nick de Vries); DAMS (Alexander Albon and Nicholas Latifi); ART GRAND PRIX (Jack Aitken and George Russell); MP MOTORSPORTS (Roberto Merhi and Ralph Boschung); BWT ARDEN (Maximilian Gunther and Nirei Fukuzumi); CAMPOS VEXATEC RACING (Luca Ghiotto and Roy Nissany); TRIDENT (Arjun Maini and Santino Ferrucci); CARLIN (Sergio Sette Camara and Lando Norris), CHAROUZ RACING SYSTEM (Louis Deletraz and Antonio Fuoco).
The specially constructed street circuit will see F1 cars race around the stunning downtown area of Baku, incorporating its UNESCO-protected old city Icheri Sheher historical-architectural reserve as well as its modern skyline and beautiful Caspian Sea promenade.
The city track, located in Baku, is 6 km long and was designed by architect Hermann Tilke. The Baku City Circuit loops around the central and the most picturesque streets of Baku. When it came to selecting the perfect route for the race, the organizers decided to emphasize the panoramic view of the city.
Another interesting fact is that the cars will race in an anti-clockwise direction. Overall 30,000 spectators are expected to watch the race from grandstands located at different parts of the circuit.
The length of the widest part of the track is 13 meters, and the narrowest width is 7.6 meters between the turns 7 and 8, which are situated along the Icheri Sheher (Inner City). The Start and Finish lanes will be located at the Azadlig Square. Moreover, the Formula 1 Paddock, team garages and pit lanes are also located there.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is fourth round of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Mercedes' Sebastian Vettel won the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Australian GP, which were held earlier. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo who has won the China Grand Prix.
