Baku asks for two cars. One with no wing for the long flat out run to turn 1, and one with a lot of grip for the slow corners in the city.
This F1 2020 Baku setup gives you the first car and fakes the second. The wings are 1 and 6. The grip in the slow part comes from the suspension: a very soft front and a very stiff rear, so the car rotates without needing a front wing. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2020 Baku setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 1 | 6 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.40 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 1 | 9 |
| Anti-roll bar | 1 | 10 |
| Ride height | 2 | 3 |
| Tyre pressure | 21.0 psi | 19.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 50% |
| Differential off throttle | 52% |
| Brake pressure | 100% |
| Front brake bias | 50% |
In F1 2020 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11. The differential goes from 50%, fully open, to 100%, locked.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2020 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
The lap on board
Why this setup works in Baku
The wings. Front 1 is the minimum. Rear 6 is one of the lowest rear wings in my F1 2020 database, where only Sochi runs less. From the exit of turn 16 to the brakes for turn 1 you never lift, and every click of wing costs speed for that whole run. The five clicks of difference between front and rear are there for the braking zones. A car with more wing at the rear than at the front stays straight when you hit the brakes at top speed.
The differential. 50% on throttle, fully open. Out of the slow 90 degree corners the inside rear wheel can turn slower than the outside one, so the car puts the power down without snapping. 52% off throttle is almost open too, and the car turns when you lift.
The tyre pressures. 21.0 psi front and 19.5 psi rear, the lowest the menu allows. A softer tyre has a bigger footprint, and in second gear corners that is the only grip you have.
The camber. Front -2.50, the least the menu allows. The rear is at -1.40, flatter than the -2.00 that half of my F1 2020 setups run. A flatter rear tyre has more contact with the road for traction out of the slow corners.
Soft front, stiff rear
This is the part of the setup that does the work.
The front suspension is at 1 and the front anti-roll bar is at 1. As soft as it goes. A soft front end gives the front tyres grip and lets the car bite when you turn in.
The rear suspension is at 9 and the rear anti-roll bar is at 10. Very stiff. A stiff rear end has less grip in a change of direction, so the rear follows the front around the corner.
Together they make a car that turns like it has a big front wing, with the front wing at 1. You get the rotation in turn 1, turn 2, turn 8 and turn 16 for free, and you pay nothing on the straight.
The price is the rear. It is quick to move, over the kerbs of the turn 5 and turn 6 chicane and in the fast part before turn 15. On new tyres over one lap, you can drive around it. Over a race distance it gets harder.
Ride height is 2 and 3. Low, for less drag. If the car hits the ground on the kerbs, this is the first thing to raise.
The brakes
Brake pressure 100%, front bias 50%. Every setup in my F1 2020 database runs 100% pressure, so that is normal for this game. The 50% bias is far back. It uses the rear tyres to help stop the car and it helps the car rotate on the way in to the corner.
It works if you brake in a straight line. If you are still hard on the brakes when you turn, the rear will come around. In Baku that means a wall. If you trail the brakes deep into corners, move the bias forward before you do anything else.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The rear steps out when you brake and turn | Front brake bias 50% to 54% | Less braking at the rear keeps it behind you |
| Front tyres lock into turn 1 or turn 15 | Brake pressure 100% to 95% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit |
| The rear snaps in the turn 5 and turn 6 chicane | Rear anti-roll bar 10 to 7 | A softer rear bar gives the rear tyres more grip in a change of direction |
| The car jumps on the kerbs | Rear suspension 9 to 6 | A softer rear rides the kerbs instead of bouncing off them |
| The car hits the ground over the bumps | Ride height 2 and 3 to 3 and 4 | More room under the floor |
| Nervous in turn 13 and turn 14 | Rear wing 6 to 7 | More rear downforce in the fast downhill part |
| Wheelspin out of turn 16 | Rear suspension 9 to 7 | A softer rear puts the power down better |
For a race
With a heavy car and tyres that have to last, a stiff rear costs you grip and overheats the rear tyres. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Rear anti-roll bar 10 to 7. The first change. The car is calmer everywhere.
- Rear suspension 9 to 6. Better traction and less tyre wear.
- Front brake bias 50% to 54%. With cars around you there is no room for a snap on the brakes.
- Brake pressure 100% to 95%. A flat spot stays with you until the stop.
- Rear wing 6 to 7. You have the tow on the straight in a race, so you can afford it.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would make the same changes and take the brake pressure down to around 90%.
F1 2020 manages the ERS for you and gives you an overtake button. In Baku, press it from the exit of turn 16 and on the run from turn 2 to turn 3. Do not waste it in the city.
Where the lap time is in Baku
- Turn 1. The biggest stop of the lap, a 90 degree left. Brake in a straight line, and with the bias at 50% I mean it. Release the brake before you turn.
- Turn 2 and turn 3. Turn 2 leads onto a long straight, so the exit comes first. Turn 3 at the end of it is the second big stop and a good place to pass.
- Turn 5 and turn 6. A quick chicane. Use the kerbs, but be ready for the stiff rear to move on the second one.
- Turn 8 to turn 12. The old city. Turn 8 is the narrow left by the castle wall, and the road climbs and twists after it. Be tidy. There is nothing to win here and a whole lap to lose.
- Turn 13 and turn 14. Fast and downhill. Smooth hands. With rear wing 6 the car is light here.
- Turn 15. A downhill left with a hard stop. Easy to lock the inside front. Brake a little early.
- Turn 16. The most important corner of the lap. After it you are flat all the way to turn 1. Turn late, get the car straight and go to full throttle once.
Baku in 2020
There was no real race to compare with. The 2020 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was postponed in March 2020 because of the pandemic and cancelled later in the year. The game was built around the calendar planned before that, so Baku is in F1 2020 even if the cars never went there that season.
The last race before it was in 2019, when Valtteri Bottas won for Mercedes. Formula 1 came back to Baku in 2021.
More F1 2020 setups
All 22 tracks are on the F1 2020 setups page. The track before Baku in the game's calendar is Monaco, with my F1 2020 Monaco setup, and the next one is Montreal, with my F1 2020 Canada setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2019 Baku setup, my F1 2021 Baku setup and my F1 25 Azerbaijan setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2020 setup for Baku?
Front wing 1, rear wing 6, differential 50% on throttle and 52% off, suspension 1 and 9, anti-roll bars 1 and 10, ride height 2 and 3, brake pressure 100% with 50% front bias, and tyres at 21.0 and 19.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run in Baku in F1 2020?
1 at the front and 6 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would run 7 at the rear.
Can I use this Baku setup in a race?
Yes, after you calm the rear down. Rear anti-roll bar to 7, rear suspension to 6, brake bias to 54% and one more click of rear wing.
Does this setup work with a controller?
With the race changes, yes. As it is, the stiff rear and the 50% brake bias are hard to control with a thumb stick.
Why is the rear so stiff in this setup?
To make the car rotate in slow corners with almost no front wing. A stiff rear follows the front around the corner.
Why is the brake bias at 50%?
It shortens the stops and helps the car turn in. It only works if you finish your braking before you turn.
Was there a 2020 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
No. The race was postponed and then cancelled because of the pandemic. Baku is still in the game.