The 10th anniversary Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku has set a number of new records.
İdman.Biz reports, citing the Baku City Circuit Operations Company, that the number of international fans reached an all-time high in the history of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while all available tickets were sold out and spectators from more than 120 countries travelled to Baku for the event.
More than 17,000 international fans watched this year's Formula 1 action live from the grandstands of the Baku City Circuit, the highest figure recorded since Formula 1 racing began in the Azerbaijani capital. Around 92,000 visits were registered over the four days of the event.
The geographical reach of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix also continued to expand, with tickets purchased by fans from more than 120 countries. A particularly noticeable increase was recorded in the number of visitors from China.
To meet growing demand, four new grandstands have been installed over the past three years, increasing total seating capacity by more than 6,000. With the addition of the City Grandstand this year, overall capacity exceeded 21,000.
The entertainment area on Baku Boulevard also attracted significant interest, with more than 25,000 fans visiting the Fan Zone each day. Concerts held over two days drew a combined audience of around 40,000.
The anniversary Grand Prix also received extensive international media coverage. Around 300 local and foreign media representatives covered the event from Baku, while the race was broadcast live by 56 international television channels and streaming platforms.
International media coverage extended beyond the action on the track, with reports and features also focusing on Baku, Azerbaijani culture and national traditions during the Grand Prix weekend.
Holding a Formula 1 race in the heart of Baku requires special attention to traffic management. This year, a new transit corridor was introduced to maintain traffic flow through the city centre. Dismantling work began immediately after the race, allowing roads to reopen gradually.
"Since Formula 1 takes place in the city centre, ensuring smooth traffic flow is one of our main priorities. Our goal is to minimise the impact of temporary restrictions on everyday movement in the city. That is why transit corridors along key routes are kept open. After the race, we try to restore the roads as quickly as possible. This year, most of the restrictions in the city centre had already been lifted by 12:30 the following day," Baku City Circuit Operations Company CEO Magsud Farzullayev said.
From a sporting perspective, the anniversary Azerbaijan Grand Prix was marked by an intense battle and an unpredictable outcome, once again living up to Baku City Circuit's famous "Expect the Unexpected" slogan.
George Russell became the eighth different driver to win at the Baku City Circuit. It means that the 10 Formula 1 races staged in Baku have produced eight different winners.
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen are the only drivers to have won twice in Baku, while each of the other winners has stood on the top step of the podium once.
The results of the 10 races underline the unpredictable nature of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where identifying a clear favourite has traditionally proved difficult. The anniversary edition continued that trend, providing another memorable chapter in Baku's Formula 1 history.
