What are the strategy options for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

A fascinating Azerbaijan Grand Prix is in the offing, particularly given the grid positions of the main championship protagonists.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starts from his fourth consecutive pole position at the Baku Street Circuit after failing to convert the previous three into a victory and is joined on the front row by McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Championship leader Max Verstappen lines up sixth in his Red Bull, while nearest title rival Lando Norris is 16th in his McLaren after being caught by a yellow flag late on his final flying lap in Q1.

Norris had qualified 17th but Pierre Gasly's disqualification promoted the Briton a place. With Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon starting from the pit lane, Norris starts 15th.

But what race strategies will be in play during the race as the drivers look to either climb their way onto the podium or, in the case of Norris and Hamilton, through the field?

No soft tyres required

Pirelli has indicated a one-stop strategy will be the optimal choice for teams to go to the end of the race.

There are, however, two primary options in play - and neither involves the soft tyre which will not form part of anybody's thinking for the 51-lap race.

The optimum strategy is to start on the medium tyre, particularly for those at the front of the grid, with the pit-stop window starting on lap 14 and ideally running through to lap 24, before switching to the hard rubber to see out the race.

The alternative is naturally the reverse, and this may come into the thinking of the McLaren and Mercedes strategists for Norris and Hamilton, starting on the hard tyre and pitting around laps 27 to 37, before taking on the quicker medium through to the flag.

The outlying alternative is a two-stopper, with a short burst on the mediums for seven to 15 laps before taking on the hards followed by an additional set of the white-strip Pirellis around laps 24 to 32.

Of course, what cannot be predicted is the safety car scenario around Baku, the chances of which are high given there have already been five red flags in the FP1 sessions to date.

Depending on the timing of those safety cars, then a team's strategy for its drivers will be thrown up into the air. 

Pirelli director of motorsport Mario Isola said: "In terms of strategy, on paper, the one-stop is definitely the quickest option at this track, with medium and hard the most suitable for the 51-lap race.

"A two-stop only becomes credible if there is a safety car in the second half of the race and that’s probably why many drivers have held back two sets of C3 [hard].

"Theoretically, based on an initial look at the data, the first stop should come between laps 13 and 20 for those who opt to start on the medium, while those who leave the grid on hards should pit between laps 32 and 38.

"Clearly, a neutralisation could lead to a run of pit stops, as we saw last year, for example. One factor to consider will be graining, given that the track is still very dirty."