Round 17 at the Azerbaijan GP 2025 sees McLaren on the brink of the Constructors’ crown, Piastri leading the title race, Verstappen chasing momentum, and the midfield in the balance.
Round 17 takes Formula 1 to the streets of Baku. McLaren arrive with the chance to wrap up the Constructors’ title. Piastri has a 31-point gap over Norris. Verstappen, fresh from his Monza victory, is chasing momentum of his own. The midfield? Still wide open at the Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan.
The paddock gave us eight voices, each with their own storyline.
Drivers and team storylines
Drivers and teams all have their own angles.
Alex Albon – Consistency if Qualifying clicks
Alex Albon’s is clear — consistency, if Qualifying clicks. He sees another chance to stretch Williams’ points run. Spa P6, Zandvoort P5, Monza P7. Four top-tens in five races.
Baku should suit a low-downforce, straight-line efficient package. The weak spot is Qualifying and tyre prep. “The main thing is can we make the tyres work,” Albon said. “If we can do that, we should have a good race.”
Targets: grid position first, survival second, points third.
Isack Hadjar – Rumours denied, focus intact
Isack Hadjar faced the inevitable in Baku. Questions, rumours, whispers of a Red Bull deal already done. He shook his head and shut it down.
“Since joining the Junior Team the goal’s been clear — to be a Red Bull driver,” Hadjar said. “For me the calls always come at the end of the season. There are still eight races left, so the only thing to do is keep pushing.”
He pointed out that leaving it late is nothing new. Red Bull and Racing Bulls have made their calls at the very end before. Until then, every lap counts.
And when he’s in the cockpit, the noise fades. “You think when I’m in the car that I’m thinking about rumours in the paddock? I have other problems to deal with.”
Hadjar’s line is clear. Nothing is signed. Nothing is settled. The only answer will come on track.
Liam Lawson – Talks ongoing, margins thin
Liam Lawson continues fighting for a 2026 seat.
“The main thing is securing a seat,” he said. “Right now it is mostly talks with Red Bull. Most of the others are locked in anyway.”
Racing Bulls remain unconfirmed. Mercedes, Alpine and Red Bull have vacancies on paper. Baku is a chance to show he delivers under pressure.
Kimi Antonelli – Learning from Monza’s bruises
Toto Wolff called Monza underwhelming. Antonelli agreed.
“On the hard tyre I struggled,” he admitted. “I made a mistake at the start. I took it as a positive, as fuel to be even better this weekend.”
Missing FP2 long-runs left him driving blind on Sunday. Qualifying was stronger, but execution slipped. Aim: a clean Azerbaijan GP weekend, not a repeat of Monza.
Oscar Piastri – Pride in the position, trust in the team
Oscar Piastri stayed composed under Monza questions.
“In Monza I deserved to finish third. Not second. I was not quick enough all weekend and that is my main takeaway.”
He praised McLaren’s position. “It is a remarkable position to be in, to be talking about clinching the Constructors’ Championship this early. A very proud moment for everybody.”
No unrest. Just trust in the process as he leads the title race into Baku.
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Pierre Gasly – Hope rests with rain
Gasly was blunt about Alpine’s season.
“It has not been as good as we would have liked,” he said. “We are consistently struggling to make our way through. We know it is not an easy task… I will not mind some rain.”
External factors like weather or strategy swings could be levellers in Baku’s streets.
Nico Hülkenberg – Confidence in the package
Monza DNS masked decent pace.
“I think in Monza we were competitive, here is similar but different at the same time,” Hülkenberg said. “We have a competitive package and looking at the last six, seven races, I think we will be competitive within the midfield.”
Kick Sauber’s form has lifted since Zandvoort. Reliability remains the caveat.
Lance Stroll – Familiar ground, fine margins
Lance Stroll enjoys coming back to Baku. The long straights, stop-start rhythm and tight walls reward precision.
“Tricky braking zones,” he said. “You have to get close to the walls. Finding the limit is a challenge but it is fun.”
He knows the midfield is stacked. “It is very tight in the midfield, there is not a lot in it, so we will see how we go.”
Aston Martin need a clean run. Bravery can flip a weekend here.
Sprint debate – Divided but growing louder
Antonelli is all for Sprints. “It is good fun,” he smiled. Every timed lap accelerates his learning.
Stroll agreed. “Every time you get in the car there is something to fight for.” He likes the rhythm. Less waiting, more jeopardy.
Older hands cite fatigue, car costs and the loss of build-up. But among the younger drivers, there is no hesitation.
With the FIA confirming six Sprint weekends for 2026, including debuts in Montréal, Zandvoort and Singapore, the discussion continues. Read the full 2026 F1 Sprint calendar here.
Baku reality check
McLaren eye the crown. Verstappen rides Monza momentum. Piastri stays calm. Antonelli answers Wolff. Albon targets points. Hadjar and Lawson keep waiting. Gasly hopes for rain. Hülkenberg believes in the package. Stroll sharpens for the walls.
Baku punishes mistakes. Long straights test power and cooling. Walls test precision. Strategy windows open and close in a heartbeat.
Titles can be shaped here. Weekends can unravel just as fast. Safety Cars and long DRS zones often define Azerbaijan GP race strategy.
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