PWP: The Strategist shares their tips ahead of Baku

After a strong start, our top-secret guru - ‘The Strategist’ - has suffered a couple of low scores in Rounds 2 and 3.

But after plugging away during this extended break, they’re back and looking to prove a point during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Currently ranked 43rd in our global standings with 60 out of a possible 120 points, it’s now your choice whether you follow their tips and insights below, or stick to your own instincts.

Keep reading to discover what The Strategist has to say…

History shows us that the quickest strategy for this circuit is a one-stop race. The big question is can all 20 cars make it around the tight walls of the Baku City Circuit without bringing out the Safety Car and tempting teams to dive into the pits for a cheap tyre change?

This week, I'm splitting my strategy to cover both bases, covering Alex for the eventuality that a Virtual or full Safety Car doesn't come out. I reckon he’ll box between Lap 11-20.

In case the Safety Car DOES come out in the opening laps in Baku, I'm putting Logan down to come in for a change of tyres before Lap 10.

The unpredictable nature of this race means that anything could happen in the opening laps. With this strategy, I should be guaranteed at least five points from the two opening questions.

Going off my earlier thinking, this would mean that Logan would pit first, therefore I am backing him to switch his tyres before Albono in Baku.

With the high chance of Virtual and full Safety Cars, it makes it hard not to back a high number of pit stops during the race.

Last year our 2022 duo made four pit stops between them, but after the last race in Australia and another high chance of a chaotic race, I'm playing it safe and going for five or more stops.

With the one stop being the quickest route around Baku in previous years, I'm predicting that Albono will switch medium tyres for hards in this race, seeing the chequered flag on this rubber.

If Logan does end up on a two-stop strategy, he will most probably finish the race on soft tyres. The question remains whether all 20 drivers can get through the opening laps without causing mayhem and allowing teams to switch to a two-stop strategy!

Similarly to 2022, I believe there will be two Virtual Safety Car periods in the race. Drama is always guaranteed at Baku City Circuit so I'm expecting more of the same in 2023.

The 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw no Safety Car intervention, however, I am not convinced this will be the case this year. There's every chance we could have multiple safety car periods like in 2021 with two Safety Car periods and one red flag.

This year I'm saying we'll have one Safety Car period on the tricky and merciless Baku City Circuit.