Sainz predicts ‘curveball’ to ‘snowball’ chaos awaiting F1 in Azerbaijan GP

Carlos Sainz has detailed the biggest challenges lying in store for the F1 field during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The 30-year-old highlighted red flags, as they interrupt the “rhythm of the race”, but also cautioned that one “curveball” of any type can result in “chaos” and a “snowball effect”.

Baku Street Circuit has a reputation for throwing up incident-filled races, and given the old F1 adage that ‘safety cars breed safety cars’, it does not take much for one intervention to feed into further disruption.

“I think the biggest challenge of Baku normally is when there are red flags because that breaks the rhythm of the race,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

“I remember one year there were two or three red flags on the same race and that really breaks the rhythm of the race.

“And then you have to wait while they clear the track, and obviously that is the biggest thing.”

Sainz – Prepare for the unpredictable

The outgoing Ferrari driver will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from third, behind Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri and ahead of the Red Bulls and Mercedes.

With Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen in fourth and sixth respectively, and Lando Norris starting P16, the Scuderia has an opportunity to further eat into the Milton Keynes-based squad’s 39-point advantage in the constructors’ championship.

It is Sainz’s best grid-setting performance at the tricky street track where he has never out-qualified a team-mate.

By the Spaniard’s admission, it is not his strongest circuit, and he will be hoping to keep his nose clean as the “chaos” ensures around him during what is often an “unpredictable” event.

“Then the safety cars,” Sainz continued. “Here it’s very difficult to keep temperature in the tyres, so whenever there’s a safety car restart, it’s very easy to front lock, very easy to go wide into the first three corners.

“So all these aspects make Baku an unpredictable race because as soon as there’s one curveball, like a safety car or a red flag, it actually generates even more chaos after, as a snowball effect.”