El Crashico, Alonso-Swift rumours & more - 2023 Azerbaijan GP Preview

Will the 2 x Qualifying and 2 x Race sessions mean more chaos around the streets of Baku?

'Land of Fire', 'City of Winds' and the 'Home of the Street Fighters', all tags for Azerbaijan, Baku and the Baku City Circuit respectively are geared towards one goal - entertainment!

We're hosting a Motorsport carnival in Mumbai on 30th April - for Formula 1 and MotoGP fans.

Join us for a live race screening, quiz and simulator session for the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Formula 1) and 2023 Spanish Grand Prix (MotoGP).

Where: Dadar SOCIAL, 3.45 pm IST onward

Get your tickets on Paytm Insider.

After a near four week gap, the questions remain the same - will anyone catch Red Bull Racing? Can Sergio Perez really challenge Max Verstappen? Will all teams bring upgrades? Will Ferrari fire (not literally!)?

And is Fernando Alonso REALLY dating Taylor Swift!?

In this banter-filled episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil and Kunal preview the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. @f1statsguru aka Sundaram shares his stats preview. We're in for a mad weekend...tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 17)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

**Title:** Inside Line F1 Podcast: Previewing the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a Unique Perspective

**Episode:** Season 2023, Episode 17

**Hosts:**
- Soumil Arora
- Kunal Shah
- Sundaram (F1 Stats Guru)

**Key Points:**

1. **Unique Perspective:**
- The hosts discuss the anticipation for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a four-week break.
- They highlight the excitement of having two qualifying sessions and two races in one weekend.

2. **Baku's Characteristics:**
- The hosts describe Baku as the "Land of Fire," "City of Winds," and "Home of the Street Fighters."
- They mention the unique features of the circuit, including the long main straight and lack of necessity for extreme downforce.

3. **Sprint Race Format:**
- The hosts discuss the controversial sprint race format and its impact on the weekend's schedule.
- They debate the pros and cons of the format, considering fan engagement and the condensed nature of the weekend.

4. **Team and Driver Performance:**
- The hosts analyze the potential contenders for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- They discuss Sergio Perez's strong record at street circuits and his rivalry with Max Verstappen within Red Bull Racing.
- They also highlight the possibility of Williams and Alpine performing well due to the circuit's characteristics.

5. **Aston Martin and Ferrari's Struggles:**
- The hosts predict that Aston Martin may struggle at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to the circuit's layout.
- They suggest that Ferrari could have a strong showing and potentially secure a podium finish.

6. **Alpine's Ambitions:**
- The hosts discuss Alpine's goal of challenging Mercedes for fourth place in the Constructors' Championship.
- They highlight Alpine's recent upgrades and their desire to close the gap to the top teams.

7. **Alpha Tauri's Record:**
- The hosts mention Alpha Tauri's impressive record at the Baku City Circuit, with Pierre Gasly achieving top-five finishes in previous years.
- They speculate on the possibility of Nick DeVries scoring his first Formula 1 points in Baku.

8. **Baku's Unpredictability:**
- The hosts emphasize the chaotic nature of the Baku Grand Prix, citing past incidents and the potential for unexpected events.
- They discuss the mysterious "force" that seems to affect certain drivers at this circuit.

9. **Stats Preview with F1 Stats Guru:**
- Sundaram, the F1 Stats Guru, provides a statistical analysis of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- He highlights the fact that every race in Baku has been won by a different driver, and that Red Bull has won three times without ever taking pole position.
- He also mentions Max Verstappen's potential to equal Sebastian Vettel's record as Red Bull's most successful driver.

10. **Aston Martin's Potential:**
- The hosts conclude the podcast by reiterating their belief that Aston Martin could have a strong showing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite their recent struggles. **Inside Line F1 Podcast: Preview of the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix**

The Inside Line F1 Podcast team, consisting of Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, and Sundaram (@f1statsguru), provided an engaging preview of the upcoming 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

**Key Points:**

* The podcast began with a discussion of the unique characteristics of the Baku City Circuit, known for its high-speed straights, challenging corners, and unpredictable nature, making it a fan favorite for its entertainment value.

* The hosts acknowledged the four-week gap between races and expressed excitement for the upcoming five races in the next six weeks, emphasizing the increasing intensity of the championship battle.

* Predictions for the Baku GP were shared, with Carlos Sainz being favored by Soumil due to Ferrari's potential advantages on the circuit. Kunal, however, remained hesitant due to persistent rumors surrounding Ferrari's reliability and internal issues.

* The conversation shifted to the introduction of a new sprint format for the Azerbaijan GP, consisting of two qualifying sessions and two race sessions. The hosts discussed the potential impact of this format on the race strategy and the possibility of increased chaos and unpredictability.

* The reliability of Ferrari's power unit was brought into question, considering their poor performance in Baku last year and the limited availability of spare components. However, the hosts acknowledged the additional elements now available to teams, allowing for more aggressive power unit usage.

* The midfield battle was also analyzed, with Nick DeVries and Nico Hulkenberg being highlighted as potential point scorers. The hosts praised Hulkenberg's seamless return to Formula One and his impressive performance in Australia.

* The potential impact of limited practice time on team strategies was discussed, emphasizing the importance of optimizing every minute of practice to gain an advantage.

**Overall Message:**

The Inside Line F1 Podcast provided an informative and entertaining preview of the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, discussing various aspects such as the circuit's characteristics, team predictions, the new sprint format, and the ongoing midfield battle. The podcast concluded with an invitation for listeners to join the live watch along event in Mumbai and a reminder of the upcoming Baku GP review on Monday.