GridnTrack
HomeF1 HubDriversConstructorsCarsStandingsResultsCalendarCircuits
NextLas Vegas Grand Prix
09d08h33m21s

Lewis Hamilton Has Never Retired at Baku, But One Race Still Stings

Ashwath Mohan — Fastest Pitstop

By Ashwath Mohan

— Published on
Updated
Fact-checked byGridnTrack Staff
Lewis Hamilton on the podium in Barcelona
Credits:Ferrari•X

Lewis Hamilton has raced nine times at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and finished all nine. At a circuit that has swallowed more cars than almost any other on the calendar, that is the statistic that tells you most about him.

One win, one pole, two podiums and 87 points. The record would look better still if not for one afternoon that got away from him completely.

One win, one pole, and the one that got away

Hamilton took pole for the very first Baku race he contested in 2017 and came away fifth, which set the tone for a record where Saturday and Sunday rarely agreed with each other.

The win arrived the following year. He qualified second in 2018 and was there at the end when the race in front of him fell apart, which at this circuit is a skill rather than an accident. Second place in 2019 made it back-to-back front-row starts converted into serious points.

Lewis Hamilton driving the Ferrari
Credits:Ferrari X
Can Ferrari win a championship for the first time since 2008?

Those three years account for 53 of his 79 Azerbaijan points. Everything since has been a slower, harder business.

2021 is the afternoon he would take back. He started second and finished 15th with nothing, having run off at the first corner at a late restart when the race had just been handed to him. No mechanical failure, no contact, no retirement on the sheet. Just a blank where a win should be.

It remains the only time in nine visits that he has finished a Baku race outside the points.

Lewis Hamilton's Azerbaijan GP record year by year

Every Azerbaijan Grand Prix start, with the grid slot it came from and what it was worth.

Lewis Hamilton's Record at the Azerbaijan GP
SeasonGridFinishPointsTeam
20171P510Mercedes
20182P125Mercedes
20192P218Mercedes
20212P150Mercedes
20227P412Mercedes
20235P68Mercedes
202419P92Mercedes
202512P84Ferrari
20266P68Ferrari
9 starts at Baku, 87 championship points, 1 win, 1 pole, 0 retirements. Grand Prix results only, sprint races excluded. Source: GridnTrack race data.

A record with no blank pages

Seven of the eight starts came with Mercedes, and the drift down the order from 2022 onwards tracks that car rather than the driver. Nineteenth on the grid in 2024 still became ninth by the flag.

Nine races, nine finishes and points in eight of them. Baku has never taken Hamilton out, which at a circuit that retired seven cars in 2026 alone is worth something on its own. That year he qualified sixth in the SF-26 and finished sixth, a quiet afternoon on a very loud day.

Share this article

About the Author

Ashwath Mohan — Fastest Pitstop

Ashwath Mohan

Ashwath Mohan is a Senior F1 Content Writer at Fastest Pitstop. With over 1000 articles written for various F1 sites, Ashwath's insights into the racing world are both informed and engaging. He has also completed his MBA, aiming to blend his expertise in Formula 1 with advanced business skills to enhance his contributions to the field.

Featured

Brazil 2024
Analysis

2026 Brazil Grand Prix - Race Weekend Preview

Kimi Antonelli heads to Sao Paulo as world champion, with Mercedes closing in on the Constructors' Championship at Interlagos

byYaseen B⁩ardien7 days ago

Recommended

Kimi Antonelli Wins 2026 F1 World Championship

Antonelli Champion and Verstappen Victorious Amongst Ferrari Chaos in Mexico

The Mexico City Grand Prix ended with the crowning of the world champion and one of the most iconic pictures in F1 history at the podium.

byStaff Writer11 days ago
Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton Leads Ferrari to COTA Practice Clean Sweep

Lewis Hamilton topped FP3 at the United States Grand Prix as Ferrari complete a clean sweep of practice sessions ahead of qualifying.

byStaff Writer19 days ago
Lewis Hamilton celebrates victory at the 2012 United States Grand Prix

Always Above P5 - Lewis Hamilton's Curious COTA Record

Lewis Hamilton has a curious record at COTA in his F1 career, finishing P5 or above every time. Can he take the podium with Ferrari at Austin in 2026?

byStaff Writer23 days ago
Lewis Hamilton on the podium in Barcelona

Lewis Hamilton Has Six United States GP Wins, More Than Anyone Racing Today

Lewis Hamilton's United States Grand Prix record: 15 starts, six wins, ten podiums and 241 points, from victory at Indianapolis in 2007 to fourth for Ferrari in 2026.

byStaff Writerabout 1 month ago