The tightest corner in Formula 1 - and why Lewis Hamilton hates it!

(Motorsport-Total.com) - There are some truly crazy passages in Formula 1. Some because they're so fast and require courage, like Eau Rouge or the 130R at Suzuka. Others because they're so narrow, and you'd never believe 20 Grand Prix cars could squeeze through such winding streets, like Loews in Monaco or the Anderson Bridge in Singapore.

Turn 8 in Baku also falls into the latter category. With speeds of up to 370 km/h, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is ​​one of the fastest on the entire calendar – and in stark contrast to the more than two-kilometer-long straight at the start and finish, there's the tight left-right combination at the castle, which also leads uphill and produces breathtaking images on TV every year.

It's not always just the Eau Rouges that stick with TV viewers. In alpine skiing, everyone knows the Mousetrap in Kitzbühel, a true test of courage – but most fans recognize Wengen's Lauberhorn primarily by the ultra-slow "Kernen-S," which is narrower than any other section on any other World Cup downhill.

Turn 8 is so twisty because it runs past the historic fortress. The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , which is why the cobblestones there couldn't simply be removed for Formula 1. The cobblestones are located beneath the asphalt layer that is temporarily laid for the race weekend.

In addition, at its narrowest point, the Old Town Passage in Baku is just 7.6 meters wide. When the track debuted in Formula 1 in 2017, the FIA ​​regulations stipulated a minimum width of 12 meters for a Grand Prix circuit. Therefore, an exception had to be made for Azerbaijan.

Why drivers don't like Turn 8

But as special as the corner may be, it's still not particularly popular with drivers: "It's a challenge," says Lewis Hamilton, "but honestly, of all the corners there are, it's the least fun. It's not particularly exciting. It's incredibly tight, and you can only follow and not overtake anyone there."

The cool thing is that, due to the low speeds and the narrowness of the track, you can also hear the lock from the cockpit, "but that's about it," Hamilton admits, revealing himself as a Turn 8 hater. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc agrees: "I don't like the corner."

Leclerc: A Baku specialist, at least in qualifying

Overall, Leclerc certainly likes Baku: "It's just the overall feeling on this track, pushing yourself to the limit when braking, knowing that even the slightest blockage will basically ruin everything because there's no run-off area next to the corner. And that's exactly the feeling I really enjoy – especially in qualifying, where you have to fully commit and take full risks. It's an adrenaline rush that I really enjoy."

What's also evident from the results: Leclerc finished in pole position in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, but has never won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His best result so far was second place last year , behind winner Oscar Piastri in a McLaren.

Ferrari was "mostly not the favorite on paper," but "ultimately still took pole. That puts you in the best possible starting position for the race, but that doesn't mean we'll have the race pace. And that's exactly what we've been lacking in recent years."

"I don't have much hope that it will be significantly different this year," says Leclerc. "I think McLaren will be the strongest team, alongside Red Bull. They definitely had something at Monza that seems to be working very well. So it won't be easy. But I'm convinced that Baku is one of the tracks where we have a slightly better chance."

"In recent years, I've been particularly strong on this track, even in direct comparison with my teammates. I think that's most likely due to the track's characteristics, which suit my driving style a bit better. I generally feel very comfortable on street circuits, but here there's something that suits me particularly well for some reason."