The FIA shares details of track limits, DRS zones and more of F1 Azerbaijan GP weekend, as Fernando Alonso adds on bad luck.
As expected, the white lines denote track limits around Baku City Circuit as per FIA Race Directors’ note for this weekend’s F1 Azerbaijan GP. There are changes to circuit from last year, though, which is mostly resurfacing and patch work at certain parts of the track.
They are – A few resurfacing patches work:
- From Turn 2 to Turn 3 mainly on the LHS.
- Before Turn 4 LHS.
- Between Turn 7 and Turn 8 on the LHS.
- Turn 12 RHS.
- Turn 14 LHS.
- Between Turn 14 and Turn 15 on the LHS.
- Turn 18 LHS.
- Realignment of the TecPro barrier at the exit of Turn 1 RHS
There will be additional tests post the completion of FP1 and FP2 after the last car has completed its practice start. They will perform the VSC, SC and red flag trial along with a background test in preparation for the 2026 F1 season (details below in FIA’s note).
In terms of the DRS zones, the first one’s detection is at SC2 before Turn 2 and its activation is 54m after Turn 2. At the same time, the second’s detection is at Turn 20 and its activation is 347m after Turn 20. There is a minor change in Zone 1’s activation, which was 56m last year.
The FIA stewards panel will be led by Garry Connelly in F1 Azerbaijan GP and will have the support of Loic Bacquelaine, Enrique Bernoldi and Danil Solomin. In other news, Mercedes’ George Russell skipped Thursday media day due to illness, but will be fine to take part from Friday onward.
Also, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rued one in 10 million scene back in Monza when he was forced to retire due to suspension failure. The team revealed that the suspension was damaged due to gravel hit and it eventually gave up later on in the grand prix.
Alonso was well in the points and would have mostly finished in the Top 10 if not for the retirement and freak luck. “They told me on Monday or Tuesday after the race, and I know it was not for the kerb, so it was a suspension failure,” said Alonso to media in Baku.
“The cause of it was not a production thing or quality control; it was just bad luck as the stone hit a physical part of the car, which was not strong enough, but there is nothing we can do now, and unfortunately, it was more bad luck. It is which is always going to be exposed, and some external objects come to the car, but I think it is a one in 10 million case, so I hope another 10 million races, I will not have another failure like that.
“These things can happen, and I remember in 2022 with Alpine, the car was not bad, and I had 12 DNFs and was P5, P6, so we lost like 55-60 points, and this year, we are up to 22, I think. So it is a shame we cannot finish races on merit when we are in the points and then we are slow, normally things are always smooth and nice until the chequered flag, we score no points.
“But this is the way it is, and this is the nature of the sport, and as long as next year, we have a good car, we’ll have normal luck. We don’t ask for good luck, but normal luck is okay,” summed up Alonso.
Here’s full FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_azerbaijan_grand_prix_-_race_directors_event_notes_.pdf
Here’s F1 drivers on Stefano Domenicali’s statement
Here’s F1 sprint calendar and more
Here’s FIA decision on penalty reversal
Other news –
David Malukas named Team Penske IndyCar driver: https://www.teampenske.com/news/index.cfm/c/729/55382/David_Malukas_to_Join_Team_Penske_Beginning_in_2026
Laura Villars confirms her bid for FIA Presidential election: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOv2_doDKyF/?hl=en