Here's the biggest storyline for each of the 11 Formula 1 teams heading into the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
On the streets of Baku, every team will be scrambling to get their car setup right. This street circuit is unusually demanding for its unique combination of heavy braking, ultra-tight sections, and long periods of full throttle running.
Plus, here are the most pressing storylines for all 11 teams heading into Baku.
Mercedes - Can Russell actually keep his second place?
George Russell is only 20 points ahead of third-place Lewis Hamilton and 25 points ahead of Lando Norris, who is in fourth. Forget the championship. Russell needs to get ahead of these two drivers to maintain the Mercedes 1-2 status quo in the Drivers' Standings.
Ferrari - Is Leclerc taking an engine penalty?
It would be a shame if Charles Leclerc took an engine penalty here. He has been so good on the streets of Baku during qualifying. The Monegasque qualified on pole here four consecutive times (2021-2024), even without the fastest car underneath.
McLaren - Can Piastri answer Stella's challenge?
After the Spanish GP, team principal Andrea Stella said that Oscar Piastri needs to "qualify better", hinting that his driver and the team, as a whole, have to figure this out. Piastri hasn't been in form this season, as he is now 66 points behind teammate Lando Norris.
Red Bull - Another podium finish for Max?
Aside from a couple of DNFs at Silverstone and Zandvoort, Max Verstappen has been on an absolute tear. He has finished on the podium in five of the last seven races, and he can challenge Russell for second place if he wants to.
Racing Bulls - Who can impress more?
In the middle of their midfield battle against Alpine, an intra-team duel is quietly brewing for the Racing Bulls. Both Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad's contracts will end after the year. If they're not careful, current Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov could come in and snatch their seat for 2027.
Alpine - Can they close the gap to the Racing Bulls?
Alpine has already secured their driver lineup for 2027, so both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto can focus on driving well and closing the gap in the midfield. They have recently trimmed their deficit from the Racing Bulls to just nine points.
Haas - Can Ocon save his future in F1?
We're using the same storyline for Haas as we did back in the Spanish GP. There are growing speculations that Haas is bent on giving the 2027 seat to F2 driver Rafael Camara, leaving Esteban Ocon's F1 future in limbo. The French driver must pull off a strong finish to the season if he wants to catch the attention of the paddock.
Audi - How good is Audi's upgrade package?
It has been a long time since Audi has brought in a major upgrade package, but they're finally doing it this week. Reports say that Audi's upgrades are focused on the chassis part of the car.
Williams - How good is Williams' upgrade package?
Like Audi, Williams waited for the Azerbaijan GP to deliver their new upgrades. They'll have a new lighter chassis and aerodynamic upgrades ready for this race at Baku.
Aston Martin - What can the weight reduction do?
The AMR26 heads into Baku with reduced weight, which could potentially improve the car's acceleration, braking, and direction changes. But how much can this weight reduction do for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll?
Cadillac - Can Perez take advantage of his new power unit?
Due to installation issues, only Sergio Perez will get the new ADUO2 power unit from Ferrari. That puts a bit of pressure on the Mexican driver, as he needs to do better than his teammate, Valtteri Bottas.
