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Formula 1 teams are expected to favour a one-stop tyre strategy<\/strong> during Saturday\u2019s 51-lap Azerbaijan GP, with the medium and hard compounds providing sufficient durability to complete the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pirelli selected its softest available 2026 range for Baku: C3 as the hard, C4 as the medium and C5 as the soft<\/strong>. Despite that choice, degradation remained low during the long runs, while track evolution partly compensated for tyre wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That makes the timing of the stop\u2014and the possibility of a Safety Car\u2014more important than outright tyre preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The medium-hard route should be the default strategy for the leading drivers<\/strong>, including pole-sitter George Russell. It provides enough grip for the start without forcing teams into an excessively early stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A predicted window of laps 18\u201324<\/strong> would leave approximately 27\u201333 laps on the hard compound. However, teams can extend the medium stint if degradation remains as low as practice suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drivers starting further down the grid may prefer the hard compound because it allows them to remain on track while the leaders stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That option is particularly relevant for Kimi Antonelli, who starts 16th after crashing in qualifying<\/strong>. The championship leader could run beyond lap 30, gain track position during the first pit cycle and wait for a Safety Car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same strategy could interest Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico H\u00fclkenberg and the penalised Aston Martin and Cadillac drivers at the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the hard tyre presents two risks: lower grip at the start and difficulty generating temperature after a Safety Car or restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The undercut is not expected to be especially powerful because tyre degradation is limited. A driver stopping early may gain from fresh rubber, but can lose that advantage while bringing the hard compound up to temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traffic is another important consideration. Baku\u2019s long straight creates overtaking opportunities, but passing remains difficult when cars have similar straight-line performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teams may therefore use an early stop primarily to find clean air\u2014not because the tyres have reached the end of their competitive life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A normal green-flag pit stop is expected to cost approximately 19.3 seconds<\/strong>, including stationary time. That loss falls substantially under a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baku\u2019s concrete walls, narrow castle section and heavy braking zones make neutralisations a constant strategic threat. A Safety Car appearing close to a driver\u2019s planned window would create an obvious opportunity for a cheaper stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hard-medium strategy offers the greatest flexibility. A driver beginning on the hard compound could wait until laps 28\u201336<\/strong>, hoping for a neutralisation before switching to the faster medium for the finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversely, an early Safety Car would create a difficult decision for medium-tyre starters. Stopping would require an extremely long final stint on the hard, while remaining out would surrender the opportunity for a reduced-time pit stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The soft is unlikely to become a serious starting option for the leaders. Although it provides stronger initial grip, it would force an early stop and expose the driver to traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its most likely uses are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The soft-hard route could work with a stop around laps 8\u201313<\/strong>, but it sacrifices the strategic flexibility considered particularly valuable in Baku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Russell begins from pole ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, with four penalties reshaping the final Azerbaijan GP starting grid<\/a>. The Mercedes driver holds the strongest conventional position, but the low degradation means rivals can extend their opening stints and attempt an offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most likely winning strategy remains medium-hard with a stop around laps 18\u201324. The most dangerous alternative is hard-medium combined with a well-timed Safety Car.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> follows the Azerbaijan GP LIVE and in REAL TIME<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia<\/a> takes place at Sepang on Sunday, 4 October 2026<\/strong>. The race starts at 08:00 BST, 03:00 US Eastern time and 15:00 in Malaysia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kimi Antonelli leads with 302 points<\/strong>, 66 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell, who has 236. Russell reduced the gap by 15 points<\/a> with his Azerbaijan GP victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPredicted Azerbaijan GP strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Starting tyre<\/th> Second tyre<\/th> Predicted pit window<\/th> Strategic purpose<\/th><\/tr> Medium<\/strong><\/td> Hard<\/strong><\/td> Laps 18\u201324<\/strong><\/td> Fastest conventional one-stop<\/td><\/tr> Hard<\/strong><\/td> Medium<\/strong><\/td> Laps 28\u201336<\/strong><\/td> Safety Car flexibility and clean air<\/td><\/tr> Soft<\/td> Hard<\/td> Laps 8\u201313<\/td> Aggressive opening stint<\/td><\/tr> Medium<\/td> Medium<\/td> Laps 22\u201328<\/td> Only possible with sufficiently low degradation<\/td><\/tr> Soft<\/td> Medium<\/td> Two stops likely<\/td> Late restart or highly aggressive strategy<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Why could drivers start on hard tyres?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How powerful is the undercut in Baku?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Safety Car could decide the Azerbaijan GP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Could anyone use the soft tyre?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When is the next F1 race after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Who leads the 2026 F1 championship after Baku?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What penalty will Franco Colapinto serve at the next F1 race?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n