President Kagame attended the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku Formula 1 street circuit on September 21, as he concluded his three-day official visit. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Azerbaijan sign five cooperation agreements Kagame attended the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday. His visit to the Grand Prix did not lack context. Rwanda has its sights set on hosting an F1 Grand Prix. ALSO READ: Kagame meets Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali Speaking at the annual Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) General Assembly in Kigali in December 2024, Kagame announced that Rwanda was pushing ahead with its bid to host the race and that there was good progress in discussions. ALSO READ: Smart airport city, Formula 1 circuit among 10 projects poised to change Bugesera Below are key things to know about the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Baku Formula 1 street circuit. First Azerbaijan Grand Prix launched in 2016 The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a Formula 1 race held in the capital city of Baku, Azerbaijan. The race takes place on the Baku City Circuit, a demanding street layout that winds through the heart of the city, blending tight, twisty corners with long straights that test both driver skill and car performance. ALSO READ: Could Rwanda be Formula One’s next destination? It is known for its high-speed street circuit, dramatic races, and a unique blend of tight corners and long straights, making it one of the more unpredictable and exciting races on the F1 calendar, according to F1. The first edition of the race, held in 2016, was called the European Grand Prix. A year later, the event was renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Baku Formula 1 Street Circuit has 2nd longest track in F1 Baku is the newest street circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, joining the ranks of Monaco, Melbourne, and Singapore. The street circuit is similar to Monaco and Singapore, but much faster. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix consists of 51 laps around the Baku City Circuit. Each lap is approximately 6.003 kilometres long, so the full race distance adds up to about 306.05 kilometres (190.170 miles). The circuit has a length of 6.003 km, making it the second-longest F1 track after Spa-Francorchamps. These 51 laps test drivers' endurance, concentration, and strategy, especially with the circuit’s mix of high-speed straights and tight corners through the city streets. Formula 1 car speeds The Baku City Circuit is renowned for its high-speed main straight, where Formula 1 cars can reach speeds of over 360 km/h. This makes it one of the fastest sections on any street circuit in the world, offering drivers a rare opportunity to hit top gear and enabling dramatic overtaking moments. Baku circuit designer Designed by renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke, the Baku City Circuit stretches over 6 kilometres, making it one of the longest tracks in F1. Unlike traditional street circuits that often limit overtaking, Baku defies expectations. The goal of the architect was to include multiple historic landmarks around the city. The final product passes the UNESCO-protected 15th-century Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Historic and aesthetic setting The layout of the circuit is a mix of very long, high-speed sections (especially the main straight along the Caspian Sea / Baku Boulevard) and narrow streets as the circuit winds through the Old City area. A combination of old-world architectural beauty and top-speed racing corners meets the lengthy straight stretch, which appears infinite. The circuit layout is a blend of open space—such as the long main straight that runs up to Turn 1—and narrow passages between walls and buildings. Famous sections The Castle section is the tightest part of the track, winding through Baku’s old city walls. The main straight, at 2.2 km, is one of the longest straights in F1, leading to intense slipstream battles and overtakes. Formula 1 features the Baku City Circuit as a challenging layout that ranks among the most difficult tracks in current competitions. Recent winners The winner of the first Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull. The 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place on 29 April as the 4th round of the season and was won by Lewis Hamilton. The 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held on 28 April as the 4th round of the season and was won by Valtteri Bottas. In March 2020, the race was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being cancelled later in the year. The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix featured as the 6th round of the season, and the race was won by Sergio Pérez from the Red Bull team, after Max Verstappen, who led a majority of the race, was struck by tyre failure. The 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was won by Verstappen, also driving for Red Bull. The 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix became the first Grand Prix to implement a new format, featuring a new qualifying session called the Sprint Shootout, which determined the grid for one of the six sprints in the 2023 season. Sergio Pérez, from the Red Bull team, became the first driver to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix twice, following his win in 2021, securing victory in both the race and the sprint. For the 2024 event, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was won by Charles Leclerc of the Ferrari team. The 2025 Grand Prix was also won by Max Verstappen of the Red Bull team. Formula 1 circuit in offing in Rwanda The development of a sports and entertainment hub in Bugesera features the construction of a new Formula 1-standard racing circuit near the under-construction international airport, aiming to bring the prestigious motorsport event to Africa for the first time in decades.
