What F1 teams do well at Azerbaijan Grand Prix with Red Bull successful in Baku

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The city streets of Baku have welcomed Formula 1 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017, so F1 Oversteer takes a look at the most successful teams and engine providers.

Winning beside the Caspian Sea has so far remained an exclusive event with few Formula 1 teams taking drivers to the top step of an Azerbaijan GP podium to date. Even including the 2016 European Grand Prix when F1 made its debut in Baku the tally of winners remains low.

Just a select few engine providers have also seen their power units propel drivers to wins at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Winning the 2016 European Grand Prix with Nico Rosberg meant Mercedes were the first F1 team and also engine manufacturer to win in Azerbaijan, as well.

Red Bull won the first Azerbaijan GP with Daniel Ricciardo in 2017

But while Rosberg made Mercedes the first team and engine manufacturer to win in Baku, it was Red Bull with Daniel Ricciardo who became the first team to win an Azerbaijan GP. Race organisers renamed it in 2017 after wanting to promote the country’s European values first.

Mercedes had the chance to be the first Formula 1 team to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017, as well, after Lewis Hamilton secured pole position. But drama in the race meant the Briton fought to rescue a fifth-place finish after having to pit when his headrest came loose.

READ MORE: The most successful drivers at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix of all time

Ricciardo picked up the pieces from Hamilton’s misfortune to win by 3.904 seconds from Valtteri Bottas, who recovered from last place after the first lap. Lance Stroll of Williams also joined the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers on the debut podium for an Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Red Bull are the most successful F1 team at the Azerbaijan GP

Mercedes eventually returned to winning ways in Baku with Hamilton and Bottas adding to Rosberg’s European GP victory at the 2018 and 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix respectively. But Baku has become Red Bull’s backyard since Formula 1 returned to the Caspian Sea in 2021.

F1 stayed away from Azerbaijan during its covid-disrupted 2020 season having initially put it on hold before cancelling the race entirely. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen have since let Red Bull dominate the event with the drivers taking victories in 2021 and 2023 plus in 2022.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Azerbaijan Grand Prix including Verstappen vs Ricciardo

Ferrari have also tasted some success at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc sealed pole position in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Sebastian Vettel even put the Scuderia on pole in 2018. But the Prancing Horse are still yet to win the race in Baku with a best result of P2.

McLaren have also tended to struggle at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but Oscar Piastri handed the Woking outfit their first win in Baku in 2024. Piastri ignored McLaren’s orders to win the 2024 Azerbaijan GP and improve on their earlier average race results of only P7.5 and P9.6.

Honda is the most successful engine manufacturer at the Azerbaijan GP

Piastri winning the 2024 Azerbaijan GP also re-established Mercedes as the most successful Formula 1 engine manufacturer around Baku. Red Bull had pulled Honda level on three wins with the Silver Arrows, although the engine was badged as a Red Bull unit in 2022 and 2023.

Renault even saw Red Bull carry its engine to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017. But the French brand’s unit was officially listed as a TAG Heuer power unit on Formula 1 documents. Red Bull and Renault agreed to re-badge the engine from 2016 to 2018 after their falling out.