Strategy
Can you overtake at Baku?
Answer
Yes, especially into Turn 1. Baku's run to the first corner is one of the longest flat-out sections in Formula 1, so slipstreaming and DRS make the braking zone into Turn 1 a prime overtaking spot. The tight, walled castle section in the middle of the lap is far harder to pass on, which is what makes Baku a boom-or-bust street circuit.
The short answer
Yes. Baku's start-finish straight is close to 2.2 km, one of the longest in Formula 1, so cars build a big tow and use DRS to draw alongside before the heavy braking into Turn 1.[1] The narrow castle section later in the lap is where following gets hard, which is why so much of the action happens on the straights.[2]
Where to overtake at Baku
- Turn 1. The main DRS zone at the end of the long start-finish straight leads into the heaviest braking point on the lap, the prime overtaking spot.[1]
- Turn 3. A second heavy braking zone after the run from Turn 2 offers another chance.
- The castle section (Turns 8 to 12). Narrow and walled, this is where overtaking is close to impossible, so track position matters through here.
Why Baku is boom or bust
Related reading
Related reading
Sources
- [1]Baku City Circuit (Wikipedia) (wikipedia-en). Accessed 2026-08-27.
- [2]Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Wikipedia) (wikipedia-en). Accessed 2026-08-27.
Published 27 Aug 2026