How many of your pre-race predictions for the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix were correct? Find out below!
1. WHO WILL LEAD THE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER BAKU?
YOUR PREDICTION: Lewis Hamilton
CORRECT ANSWER: Max Verstappen
In one of the closest poles ever, just 0.4% more backed Lewis Hamilton to lead the championship after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix than Max Verstappen. As it turned out, neither driver scored points in the race. Verstappen suffered a tyre failure which cost him the race victory, while Hamilton locked up at the restart and finished in a lowly 15th. Verstappen’s championship advantage over Hamilton remains at four points.
2. WILL ANYONE CRASH AT TURN 8?
YOUR PREDICTION: YES
CORRECT ANSWER: NO
Baku City Circuit’s famous Turn 8 proved less of a challenge to the drivers in 2021, with the entry kerb having been taken away. No driver crashed here, with Turn 15 – later in the lap – proving to be more of a trouble spot this time around. There were very few incidents at Turn 8 over the race weekend. Carlos Sainz went off up the escape road at the corner during the race.
3. WHO’LL SCORE MORE POINTS – ALPINE OR ASTON MARTIN?
YOUR PREDICTION: ASTON MARTIN
CORRECT ANSWER: ASTON MARTIN
Aston Martin secured their first podium finish in Formula 1 thanks to Sebastian Vettel, who finished as runner-up to Sergio Perez. While Vettel secured 18 points for the team, Lance Stroll brought out the Safety Car after crashing out of the race on the pit straight. At Alpine, Esteban Ocon retired while Fernando Alonso brought home a sixth place finish – the team’s best result of the year so far.
4. WILL THE TRACK RECORD BE BROKEN?
YOUR PREDICTION: YES
CORRECT ANSWER: NO
Despite the Turn 8 complex being taken at higher speed than in previous years, the Baku City Circuit Track Record was not broken in qualifying. Charles Leclerc’s pole time – a 1:41.218 – was around eight tenths away from the track record set by Valtteri Bottas in 2019.
5. HOW MANY SAFETY CAR PERIODS WILL THERE BE?
YOUR PREDICTION: 2
CORRECT ANSWER: 2
There were two Safety Car periods in the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. One was as a result of Lance Stroll’s crash, while the second was as a result of Max Verstappen’s crash. The second Safety Car period became a red flag.
Let us know how you got on with this race’s predictions! There’ll be more predictions to be made ahead of the next Grand Prix. Follow Lights Out on twitter to take part: @LightsOutF1Blog!