Five Reasons To… get to Baku for the race.

Baku scenic-411-min

By Natalia Panteleeva | There have been a number of changes in the calendar for 2020, but that should never stop you from attending a stage. I strongly advise you to buy tickets to Baku, and I surely have several reasons to back that up.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

It might turn out to be an unforgettable race.

The race in the capital of Azerbaijan is not only the fastest but also one of the most spectacular in other aspects. Do you remember when Sebastian Vettel butted the wheels of Hamilton’s car, and Lance Stroll got up on the podium in 2017? Red Bull drivers collided in 2018 when Daniel failed to turn; various misadventures with drain cover and Leclerc’s emotional performance in the qualifying of 2019. Wow. The national mentality of people with hot blood is transmitted to the race itself, for sure.

  1. Heritage, heritage, heritage.

This city is named after “the land of lights”. Basically, this is not Europe or Asia. The history of the old empire here is closely intertwined with the bright modern technologies. Baku is a city of ancient streets that are adjacent to the ultra-fresh flame towers and the cultural centre of Heydar Aliyev. I promise that you’ll discover many more miracles after even a brief stroll around Baku – check them out!

The race in the capital of Azerbaijan is not only the fastest but also one of the most spectacular events in other aspects.

  1. The longest straight. Ever.

Do you want to see the highest speed in Formula 1 with your own eyes and feel the vibration of the cars passing by? The track in Baku that has the longest straight line (2.1 km long), and it was here that Valterri Bottas set the unofficial speed record, growing to 378 kph in 2016 in qualifying. The cars fly counter-clockwise, and the width of the road on the section between 8 and 12 turns is only 7.5 meters! If that’s not exciting, I don’t know what is, but in any case, it’s worth a try.

  1. A tasty Grand Prix.

Azerbaijan will welcome you with a delicious breakfast you might remember for a long time: local cheeses, cottage cheese, flatbreads with herbs and tea in the famous pear-shaped bowl. The mountainous and subtropical climate has caused a wide distribution of mutton, poultry, river and Caspian fish. Some of those are impossible to say no to. Another feature of Azerbaijani cuisine is its sharp taste and unique aroma, which will bring all sorts of seasonings and herbs to the dishes. You should definitely try the pilaf and baklava (the national dish admired internationally).

  1. The programme.

The marketing and events people of the Baku race work together like a well-oiled machine. Formula 1 audiences were entertained here by such stars as Mariah Carey, Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, and Cardi B in the past years. I’m curious to see what they’ll bring for 2020, but I’m already certain that the show will be mind-blowing.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!




There are no comments

Add yours