But unlike Formula 1’s crown jewel, Baku requires a set-up balance weighted more towards straight-line speed than aerodynamic efficiency as, contrary to Italy’s Temple of Speed, there are no high-speed corners around Azerbaijan’s 6.0km street circuit. Baku’s speed trap is located approximately at the mid-way point of the track’s long 2.2km main straight, just before the pit entry. But drivers typically reach their maximum velocity further down the road – especially when they benefit from a slipstream, a very powerful tool in Baku, be it in qualifying or on race day. According to Pirelli, the fastest route to the checkered flag is a one-stop with Medium and Hard playing the leading roles, unless of course there are any neutralisations. The one certainty is that it will be a very unpredictable race, especially because of a grid order like nothing we have seen so far this season.