Baku rewind: Three memorable moments from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
23 September 2026Formula 1 returns to Baku for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking 10 years since the sport first raced around the Baku City Circuit. In that time, it has built a reputation for unpredictable races.
Here are three of the most memorable moments from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s history.
1. 2017: Vettel and Hamilton clash in Safety Car shenanigans
While Daniel Ricciardo would ultimately take victory in Formula 1’s second Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it was the confrontation between title rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton that became one of Baku’s defining moments.
As the field circulated behind the Safety Car, Vettel clipped the rear of Hamilton’s Mercedes while the pair prepared for a restart. Believing that Hamilton had brake-tested him, Vettel moved alongside his rival and turned into the Mercedes, making contact once again.
That caught the attention of the stewards, who dished out a 10-second stop-and-go penalty to Vettel for the incident. Hamilton then appeared set to benefit, only for a loose headrest to force an unscheduled pit stop and drop him out of contention for the win.
2. 2018: Bulls lock horns in Baku
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen spent much of the race battling each other for fourth place, swapping positions and running remarkably close through Baku’s unforgiving streets. There had already been several near misses, including contact between the two cars at Turn 1, but neither driver was ready to back down.
Eventually, with the pair running close together on the approach to Turn 1, Ricciardo tucked into Verstappen’s slipstream and moved to the inside.
Verstappen shifted across to defend, leaving Ricciardo with nowhere to go as he struck the rear of his team-mate’s car. The result was a spectacular double retirement, with both Red Bulls eliminated from the race.
3. 2021: Title rivals falter
Baku produced another extraordinary finish in 2021, when both title challengers, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, saw victory and valuable championship points disappear when they were so tantalisingly close.
Verstappen appeared to be cruising towards victory for Red Bull when, on Lap 46 of 51, his left-rear tyre failed on the main straight. The sudden puncture sent the car heavily into the barriers, bringing his race to an abrupt end and prompting a red flag.
With just two laps remaining, Sergio Perez led Hamilton at the restart, with the Mercedes driver presented with a huge opportunity to make up ground on his title rival.
Hamilton made a strong getaway and went for the inside at Turn 1, but locked up almost immediately and ran straight into the escape road. A setting on his steering wheel had inadvertently altered the brake balance, leaving him unable to slow the car as intended, prompting a memorable reaction from Mark Webber. Hamilton eventually rejoined at the back and finished 15th, while Perez held on to claim victory.
