In a nutshell: which tyres for the Azerbaijan GP?

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Formula 1 moves back to the old world this weekend, setting up shop on the fastest street circuit of the season in Baku.

As the most recently arrived venue on the Formula 1 calendar, Baku is the one that the teams have the least information about, having only raced there once for the inaugural race last year.

Since then the technical regulations and tyre characteristics have changed, so it’s once more a blank sheet of paper.

The tyres nominated for the longest and fastest street circuit of the year are P Zero White medium, P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft: a combination last seen in Bahrain this year - and also used in Baku last year.

"Following Monaco and Montreal, Baku is the third non-permanent, low-grip venue in succession, but it has a very different character," explains Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of Car Racing.

The lap is a lot faster, with more energy going through the tyres, and track temperatures could be very high, like last year.

"For these reasons, we’ve chosen a range of tyres in the middle of the spectrum, which worked well in 2016.

"Maybe a surprise back then was that there were no safety cars, despite predictions to the contrary, so this could be a factor to consider when formulating race strategy.

"With a combination of low speed corners and long straights, it’s quite hard to find the right balance, especially in terms of downforce."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.