As Alonso could become the second driver to finish 250 F1 races, Mazepin will be looking to improve Russian drivers’ luck in Azerbaijan and will Baku have its first repeat winner? Here are the milestones and records which could be broken at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix!
THE MILESTONES
The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be the 1,041st F1 race to be held as a round of the World Championship. It will be the fourth Azerbaijan Grand Prix to be held since the inaugural event in 2017 and the fifth F1 race at Baku City Circuit.
This will be the third Formula 1 race to be held on 6th June. It will be the first race to take place on this day since the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix.
Lap 46 of the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be the 250th Grand Prix lap raced at Baku City Circuit.
This will be the first F1 race in Azerbaijan to not feature Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen on the grid.
THE RECORDS TO BREAK
Max Verstappen recorded his twelfth Grand Prix win at the Monaco Grand Prix. Another win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix would see him equal David Coulthard as the driver to have won the second-most races without winning the title. Stirling Moss, who won sixteen Grands Prix in his World Championship career, is the only other driver to have won more races without claiming a title win. Read more: Most F1 Wins Without Winning the Title.
A podium finish for Valtteri Bottas would be his 60th top three result. It would see him equal Nelson Piquet for tenth in the all-time list of most podium finishes in Formula 1.
If a Mercedes-powered car takes pole position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it would be the 213th race at which a Mercedes-powered car has taken pole. That would see them equal Renault as the engine manufacturer with the second-most poles in Formula 1.
Should Fernando Alonso reach the chequered flag at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it will mark the 250th time that he has crossed the finish line at a Formula 1 event. Only Kimi Raikkonen has finished more races in his career. The Finn’s tally is currently 264.
No driver has recorded multiple wins at the Baku City Circuit since it joined the calendar in 2016. Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas could change that this weekend. The same is true of pole positions, with Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton and Bottas able to become the first repeat Baku polesitter.
Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas currently share the record for most Baku podiums with two apiece. They all have the opportunity to extend the record this weekend, while Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll or Kimi Raikkonen could equal the record.
Ferrari could equal Mercedes’ record tally of five podiums this weekend. Mercedes could extend their record, or Ferrari could equal it; but only if Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both finish on the podium without either Mercedes driver recording a top three result.
Despite only starting one race here, Nico Rosberg still holds the record for most laps led at the Baku City Circuit. He led all 51 laps of the first race here in 2016. Any driver could equal that this weekend, while Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo could all surpass that figure. Closest to the record is Valtteri Bottas, who has led 49 laps at the track so far.
Lewis Hamilton currently holds the record for most front row starts at the Baku City Circuit, with three. He could extend the record this weekend, or Valtteri Bottas could equal it.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are the only drivers to have scored in every race in Azerbaijan so far, as well as the only drivers to complete every lap raced so far at the track. They could extend the record for most laps completed at the track to 255.
In qualifying, Carlos Sainz will set a new outright record for most Q2 exits at Baku City Circuit should he be eliminated in Q2. He currently shares the record of three Q2 exits at the circuit with Kevin Magnussen. Fernando Alonso could also equal the existing record.
Daniil Kvyat currently holds the record for most retirements at Baku City Circuit, having failed to finish on any of his three appearances. His record of three retirements at the track could be equalled this weekend by Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.
A Russian driver has raced in every Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit – but no Russian driver has reached the end of the race. If Nikita Mazepin crosses the finish line this weekend, he would be the first Russian driver to do so.