2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The **2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix** was a Formula 1.5 motor race that took place on 28 April 2019 at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The race was the 4th round of the 2019 Formula 1.5 World Championship, marked the 3rd time that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix had been run as a World Championship round, and the 4th time that the Baku circuit has been part of the Formula 1.5 World Championship (the 2016 race was run as the European Grand Prix).

## Background

### Championship Standings before the race

Heading into the race Kimi Raikkönen held a 11-point advantage in the Drivers' Championship over Kevin Magnussen with Alfa Romeo holding a 1-point advantage over Racing Point in the Constructors' Championship.

### Entrants

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand in drivers for either the race or practice.

### Penalties

In the lead up to the weekend it was announced that Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi would be receiving new control electronics for the Grand Prix. As this was his third set of control electronics he was given a 10 place grid penalty.

## Practice

The first practice session ended after only 12 minutes (the session was scheduled for 90) after the Williams car driven by George Russell was badly damaged when it hit a loose drain cover. The truck towing Russell's car back to the pit lane then hit a pedestrian bridge, leaking hydraulic fluid onto the track and Russell's car. As a result of these two incidents, race director Michael Masi cancelled the session, in order to check the other manholes on the circuit and to check the damage to the pedestrian bridge. Williams determined Russell's chassis needed replacing meaning he would not be allowed to run in the second practice session.

The first major incident of second practice was Lance Stroll crashing 15 minutes into the session at turn 2. Daniil Kvyat also crashed at turn 7 with 25 minutes to go.

## Qualifying

The first qualifying session ended when Robert Kubica's Williams crashed into the wall. . Nico Hülkenberg, Romain Grosjean, Lance Stroll, George Russell, and Robert Kubica were eliminated.

## Race

On lap 14 Robert Kubica was issued with a drive-through penalty. The stewards found that Williams had released Kubica into the pit lane earlier than permitted at the start of the race, a rule the team were not aware of. Shortly afterwards an incident occurred between Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, who were running in 10th and 11th respectively, at turn 3. Ricciardo attempted an overtake on Kvyat on the inside of the corner but locked up his brakes sending him down the escape road. Kvyat was forced to miss the corner to avoid turning into the Renault and came to a stop before his car hit the wall. Ricciardo then reversed into Kvyat whilst attempting to rejoin the track causing damage to both cars which was sufficient to retire them from the race. Both cars were able to return to the pits avoiding the need for a safety car.

## Championship Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

  1
  1
  2

Constructors' Championship standings

  1
  3
  1
  1

## External Links

1. ↑  Antonio Giovinazzi received a ten-place grid penalty for using a third control electronics in his power unit.
2. ↑  Robert Kubica was required to start from the pit lane after making suspension changes to his car.
3. ↑  Kimi Räikkönen was excluded from qualifying after his car failed a front wing deflection test. He was permitted to race at the stewards' discretion and was required to start from the pit lane after adjusting his front wing.
4. ↑ Includes 1 point for fastest Lap