Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be part of the Formula 1 calendar for 2019, Executive Director of Baku City Circuit Arif Rahimov told reporters in Monaco.

“We did not even discuss this [removal of the Baku race from the calendar] with FOM (Formula One Management), it just does not make sense. We have a contract for five years, and we must hold five races starting from 2016,” he said.

Rahimov added that these agreements are binding and neither party can violate them, and that the information that Miami can replace Baku is a rumor.

“If the Miami stage is included in the championship calendar and all other Grands Prix also remain, their number will reach 22,” he noted. “I suppose a draft of the 2019 season calendar may be ready this or next month, and the Baku race will be in this calendar.”

At the same time, the executive director added that in case of signing a contract for the next five years, it will be necessary to improve its conditions. Rahimov noted that Baku City Circuit wants the race to be held not in April but in June.

“It takes three to four months to prepare the track. When the race is held in April, it means that we have to start the works in winter, when the weather is poor. Often rains and strong winds slow the process. Therefore, we would definitely like to move the race to June,” he said.

The races within the 2018 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix were ongoing on April 27-29 in the streets of Baku. As many as 20 drivers representing 10 teams, including such famous drivers as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkönen, Fernando Alonso and many others, struggled for the first place in the Baku City Circuit.

In the final race, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes team came first, spending 1 hour 43 minutes and 44 seconds to overcome the distance of 306 kilometers. The second and third place winners Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Sergio Perez of Force India were late just for 2.5 and 4 seconds respectively.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz