F1® 25: 2026 SEASON EDITION – BAKU CITY CIRCUIT – TIPS AND TRICKS

Get ready to hit the streets of Baku!* This circuit combines ultra-long straights with tight, unforgiving sections, making it one of the most technical and thrilling tracks on the calendar.

To help you master this unique street circuit, here is your definitive guide to Baku. 

Setup and Downforce Strategy

Unlike tighter city tracks, Baku rewards straight-line performance while still demanding precision through its medium-speed sections.

Baku defaults to a low downforce setup, though it is not quite as extreme as Monza. Because there are only two medium-to-high-speed corners across the entire lap, running even less wing than the default setting is a viable and effective strategy. 

Trimming your downforce provides a significant top-speed advantage heading down the main straight into Turn 1 and Turn 3, which can often be the deciding factor in completing an overtake.

Key Takeaways

• Trim Your Wings: Run lower downforce than default to maximize straight-line speed gains.

Boost and ERS Strategy

Managing your Energy Recovery System (ERS) effectively around Baku is critical for protecting yourself from the competition and providing you with opportunities to overtake into heavy braking zones.

The primary areas to deploy boost are exiting Turn 2 and exiting Turn 19 onto the main straight. 

A secondary option is available out of Turn 12 if you are running on fresh tires, as Turns 13 and 14 remain flat-out, leaving plenty of runway before reaching the braking zone for Turn 15. 

Conversely, using boost between short sequences like Turns 4–5 or Turns 6–7 is generally ineffective unless opportunistic wheel-to-wheel racing demands it. Be cautious with excessive boost deployment prior to Turns 18–19 to avoid hitting top speed limits early and needing to lift off the throttle.

Key Takeaways

• Primary Boost Zones: Exits of Turn 2 and Turn 19 (main straight).
• Secondary Boost Zone: Exit of Turn 12 when on fresh tires.
• Energy Management: Avoid using boost before Turns 18–19 to prevent premature lifting and wasted energy.

Wet Weather Advice and Active Aero

Rain drastically alters racing dynamics at Baku, particularly due to how the Active Aero system behaves in wet conditions.

In wet weather conditions, the rear wing remains locked in its closed configuration and will not open on the straights, leading to a massive overall reduction in top speed. Despite this speed reduction, running a lower wing setup remains crucial even in wet races. If you load too much downforce onto the car, rival drivers with lower wing settings will easily pass you on Baku’s long straights.

Key Takeaways

• Stick to Low Wing: Maintain a lower wing setup even in rainy conditions to defend straight-line speeds against opponents.

Sector-by-Sector: Racing Lines and Tricky Corners

Navigating Baku requires a delicate balance of aggression and patience. Here is a breakdown of the key corners and hazard areas:

• Turn 1: Hard braking zone. Initiate braking as soon as you reach the brake markers and aim for the right-side curb. Missing this braking point will send you straight into a very close tire barrier on exit.
• Turn 2: A narrower corner with high lap time potential. Take an early entry and clip the inside curb to carry speed.
• Turn 3: Similar to Turn 1 with a hard-to-spot entry point. Reference the brake markers on the fence. Exercise extra caution if approaching under Overtake mode/boost due to higher entry speed.
• Turn 7: Highly prone to lock-ups and running deep. Brake slightly earlier than intuition suggests and aim for a tight apex rather than running deep.
• Turns 8–12 (The Castle Section): The ultimate patience test. Thread through carefully, avoid clipping the walls, and prioritize exit speed from Turn 12 onward.
• Turn 15: A downhill, sharp braking zone featuring a large inside curb. Hitting the inside curb too hard will pick up the car and push it directly into the wall. Brake early and limit inside curb usage.
• Turn 16 Exit: Features a tall exit curb that can catch the floor of the car, unsettling traction and causing instant wheel spin. Drive over a portion of the curb, but avoid straddling it.
• Turns 18–19: Flat out in dry, normal conditions. However, if heavily deploying boost prior to Turn 18, a slight lift off the accelerator may be required.

Key Takeaways

• Braking Markers: Rely on fence and curb markers for sharp braking at Turns 1, 3, and 7.
• Castle Section (Turns 8–12): Focus entirely on clean positioning and wall avoidance.
• Turn 15 & 16 Hazards: Brake early into Turn 15 to avoid the aggressive inside curb, and avoid straddling the exit curb at Turn 16.

Overtaking Opportunities

Baku offers clear high-reward overtaking zones alongside secondary opportunities caused by driver error.

The two main overtaking spots on the track are Turn 1 and Turn 3, thanks to their long preceding straights and heavy braking zones. Turn 2 presents an opportunistic passing spot if the driver ahead makes a mistake at Turn 1. Additionally, Turn 7 serves as a secondary passing area if the defending car gets a poor exit coming out of Turn 6.

Key Takeaways

• Primary Zones: Heavy braking into Turn 1 and Turn 3.
• Secondary Zones: Opportunistic passes at Turn 2 and Turn 7 following opponent mistakes.

EA SPORTS™ F1® 25 is available now across PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

*Not available in F1 25 base game. Requires F1 25: 2026 Season Edition or 2026 Season Pack (sold separately).