This weekend, McLaren has the chance to take the lead in the Formula One constructors’ standings in Azerbaijan, on a street circuit in Baku that has historically favoured Red Bull, the current champions and leaders.
The team, based in Britain, is starting the final phase of the season, only eight points behind their struggling rivals. In the last five races, McLaren has outscored their opponents by a greater margin. Lando Norris, who is currently 62 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, has not yet achieved a podium finish in Baku. Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri, who is 106 points behind the leader, finished 11th as a rookie last year. However, with their upgraded car performing well in all tracks, this time could be different.
The main question remains whether the team will use team orders to support Norris’ chances, after missing a golden opportunity in Monza. “Our objective is clear. I have full confidence in the team to continue working and improving. With both championships at stake, we are more determined than ever. I am proud of the team and looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this weekend,” said the British driver.
Verstappen, who was once the dominant triple champion, has not won a race in the last six rounds and finished in sixth place in the last race in Italy, won by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. The Dutch driver clinched victory on the shores of the Caspian Sea in 2022, but his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez has a better record there, being the only driver to win twice. “Monza was a challenging race and our priority is to bring our performance back to the level it needs to be,” said Verstappen, who has been using the factory simulator to prepare for the upcoming back-to-back races in Singapore. “The team has been working hard to address the issues we have been facing with the car in the past few races.” In Monza, Verstappen described his car as “undriveable”.
While Red Bull has won the last three races in Baku, Leclerc is chasing his fourth consecutive pole position at the Azerbaijan GP. Ferrari, currently 39 points behind Red Bull, could be strong contenders for victory on a challenging circuit that combines high-speed slipstreaming on the straights with tricky, twisty turns in the old town. “We have always been competitive here, and it is one of Charles’ favourite tracks. We are on a high after our win in Monza, and we are determined to maintain this momentum,” said team boss Fred Vasseur.
Mercedes also has reasons to be optimistic, despite their recent struggles in the Netherlands and Italy, as they are the only team, apart from Red Bull, to have won in Baku. “We are heading to Baku with the aim of performing better than we did in Zandvoort and Monza,” said team boss Toto Wolff. “We have the opportunity to show that we have learned from our mistakes and made improvements for this weekend in Azerbaijan and the following week in Singapore.”
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen will not be on the starting grid, as he has triggered a one-race ban due to accumulated penalty points. Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who will be replacing Magnussen next season, will be standing in for him for the second time this season, after filling in for Carlos Sainz in Melbourne when he was suffering from appendicitis.
