Next stop: Azerbaijan – The F2 title fight heats up
Following a pivotal weekend in Monza, Hitech TGR arrive in Baku at the heart of the FIA Formula 2 Championship title fight, with just three rounds and six races remaining of the 2025 season.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend delivered a major breakthrough, as Luke Browning claimed his maiden F2 victory, which was also the team’s first win of the season. Strong performances from Dino Beganovic saw him finishing sixth in both the Sprint and the Feature Race, resulting in two double points finishes and extending the team’s tally to 11 trips to the podium this year.
The successful weekend in Italy marked a crucial turning point, reasserting the team’s place at the sharp end of the Standings and setting the stage for a high-stakes fight to the finish at Yas Island in December.
Our next stop is the Baku City Circuit – one of the most demanding and unpredictable tracks on the calendar. It combines ultra-tight sections, including the famed castle complex, with high-speed straights and heavy braking zones. Baku is known for often chaotic races, a high incidence of Safety Car interventions, and dramatic swings in fortune. As a result, it will provide both risk and opportunity for our title hopes.
Located on the shoreline of the Caspian Sea, the circuit nestles between the old and new worlds of Azerbaijan. At 6.003km it is one of the longest tracks on the calendar and always delivers the exciting racing for which street circuits are renowned. This one features a 2km flat-out blast of a straight that runs along Baku Boulevard on the seafront and provides a good overtaking opportunity. Conversely, it also features the narrowest section of track at just 7.6m wide – strictly single file!
The big challenge in Baku is getting the balance right to contend with both the long straights and the tight corners, as well as the changeable track temperature between the wide-open sections and the tree-lined avenues through the historic district. An adaptable Feature Race strategy – one that can respond to either a sudden Safety Car excursion or a turn in the weather – will be critical.
Clive Hatton, Hitech’s F2 Team Manager:
“We’ve been working hard as a team to get ourselves back in the hunt, and we started to reap the rewards in Monza. Now it’s about maintaining the momentum as we navigate three of the most challenging rounds on the calendar.”
“Luke and Dino have their individual goals but are also determined to see us triumph in the Teams’ Championship, and they’ll bring full focus to help achieve that.”
“Baku presents its own unique challenges: the circuit can be tricky and the racing unpredictable. But it also brings opportunities, so we’re excited to tackle it head-on.”
Schedule
Friday 19 September
Free Practice
10:00-10:45
Qualifying
14:00-14:30
Saturday 20 September
Sprint Race (21 laps)
14:15-15:00
Sunday 21 September
Feature Race (29 laps)
11:00-12:00
