It’s round four of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and it’s time for the first European race of the season. We’re back in Baku! Azerbaijan holds fond memories for the team with Lance’s third place podium finish in last year’s thriller of a race. Unlike Shanghai, Baku is a track Sergey has driven before in GP2, having recorded double-podium finishes on his debut at the track in 2016. The team aims to see continued progress in Azerbaijan off the back of improved performance in Shanghai.
 

PADDY LOWE:
We head to Baku for the third time this weekend, and it has proven to be a great addition to the Formula One calendar so far. It is an exciting circuit with an incredible range of character from the slow track through the old city to the very long straight at the start finish line. Last year produced a very eventful race and memorable one for Williams, with Lance securing his first Formula One podium and indeed the only podium last year from a team not in the top three. It is earlier in the calendar year this season which should make for some cooler conditions than we have seen previously. We look forward to returning to Baku and making the best of this race to put on a good show for our new Azerbaijani fans. Russia is also a close neighbour of Azerbaijan and so we expect some great support for Sergey in his first Formula One race there. For Lance it would be bold to expect another podium but he should perform well given his significant achievements in Baku last year.