Golding: Baku calls for a balance between top speed and grip

Teams face a set-up compromise in Baku: low downforce helps on the long straight, but grip and stable braking are needed in the tight corners. This trade-off is central to Nick Golding’s technical explanation in his 23 September preview for RacingNews365 English. He does not specify individual teams’ set-up choices.

Golding describes the main straight as approximately 2.2 kilometres long. Drivers can gain speed there in the slipstream of a car ahead as they approach the first corner. But there is also a risk at the end of that long run. According to RacingNews365, citing F1’s circuit guide, the tyres and front brake discs cool considerably during prolonged running at top speed. This increases the risk of the front wheels locking under the heavy braking that follows.

The set-up is therefore not solely about straight-line speed. Golding also points to the grip and brake cooling needed for the tight, right-angled corners in the second sector. According to his explanation, using as little downforce as possible is therefore not a solution in itself.

Wind can further complicate that compromise. RacingNews365 cites Cadillac’s race preview: gusts between tall buildings can disrupt downforce and braking stability as cars move from sheltered streets onto exposed coastal stretches. This is a technical risk described in the article; the publication provides no wind forecast for the coming weekend.

The schedule is also different: according to RacingNews365, the weekend begins on Thursday 24 September and the race takes place on Saturday 26 September 2026. The Grand Prix has been brought forward by a day because Sunday 27 September coincides with Azerbaijan’s day of remembrance.