This Schumacher record will be broken at F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

F1 will race in Baku for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix for only the sixth time in the sport’s history.

It made its debut on the F1 calendar back in 2016 with Nico Rosberg dominating the race for Mercedes.

Since then, the races have often been dramatic and chaotic, with a variety of surprise podium finishers.

• How to live stream the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP for free online
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Lance Stroll scored his maiden F1 podium in the 2017 race, while both Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly starred in the last year’s grand prix, making the most of Max Verstappen’s unfortunate puncture and Lewis Hamilton’s mishap on the restart.

Sergio Perez has emerged as an unlikely title contender this year and he’s often performed well in Baku, winning in 2021 but also taking podiums in 2016 and 2018.

However, Alpine’s star man could break a long-standing record this weekend. 

Sunday's race in Baku will mark 21 years, three months and eight days since Alonso’s debut at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.

This would move him ahead of Schumacher’s current record which stands at 21 years and three months exactly. 

The duo fought for the F1 world championship back in 2006 with Alonso ultimately coming out on top.

Schumacher would then retire at the end of that season before making a surprise return in 2010 with Mercedes.

Alonso had a brief spell away from the sport after four miserable years with McLaren before returning with Alpine last year.

The Spaniard remains one of F1’s top drivers despite not standing on the top step of the podium since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.