Baku race set to be renamed Azerbaijani Grand Prix

The Grand Prix of Europe is requesting a name change to the Azerbaijani Grand Prix, Nigar Arpadarai, head of marketing and communications at Baku City Circuit, told reporters in Baku.

"We have made an appeal to Formula 1 management," said Arpadarai, "And it appears they have no objections. Therefore we hope the next race will be held under the name of the Azerbaijani Grand Prix,” she added.

Arpadarai said the purpose of renaming the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe is to present many European values of Baku to the wider international community.

“We successfully held Formula 1 in the capital for the first time. Therefore, it is time to link the name of this event with our country,” she noted.

“We believe that from 2017 our race will be named the Formula 1 Azerbaijani Grand Prix,” added Arpadarai.

Azerbaijan hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe for the first time on 17-19 June, 2016, in Baku.