Formula One Championship about to kickoff in Baku

The fourth round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship races is about to start in Baku, with drivers already doing their practice laps. Twenty drivers will be taking part, representing ten teams. They will make 51 laps of 6 km each along the central streets and squares of Baku.

According to experts, the most likely to win will be the four-time world champions Sebastian Vettel from Germany and Lewis Hamilton from the UK, and last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo from Australia.

Baku is hosting the race for a third time. As in past years, there is no data available regarding the costs of the race. However, according to the organizers, the expenses will be lower and the income higher than in previous years as the race in Baku has been rescheduled from June to April for 2018. Pit lanes and some stands had not been dismantled, and so the organizers decided to reuse the previous year’s fences.

The race itself will take place on 29 April. Tickets range from 40 to 600 dollars, depending on the location of the seats.

As in previous years, the event will also feature concerts such as by Christina Aguilera, the “Jamiroquai” band, Martin Solveig and others who are visiting Baku this year.

The central streets of Baku were already closed off a week before the start of the race, while schools located along the race track announcing an extraordinary week-long vacation for pupils. Many Baku residents note their objections against such measures in social networks, but there are many who are sympathetic. Here are some typical comments:

“The city looks exactly like occupied Warsaw with the Jewish ghetto. Fences everywhere, almost like barbed wire, and a howitzer on the new boulevard.”

“It took me almost two hours to get home from work.”

“I wonder if there is a person who gets high from this formula in this country?”

“The city is like a prison camp.”

“It does not bother me, well, I can take a ride on the subway, what’s wrong?”

“Just tolerate it, as it is the will of the Lord.”

“You should not look at everything only from the point of view of your own benefits.”

“Look at life more positively.”

“Formula-1 is a great event for our small country.”

“I agree to be inconvenienced for a while.”