10 Years, More Than 35,000 Applications: The Unsung Heroes of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

From Baku to Monaco, and from Austin to Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijani marshals have spent the past decade becoming part of not only their home race, but Formula 1 Grands Prix around the world.

More than 35,000 applications to join the marshal programme have been submitted over the 10-year history of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The figure reflects the programme’s growing popularity and the development of the marshal team in Baku over the years.

When Formula 1 made its debut in Baku in 2016, a large proportion of the marshals were brought in from Bahrain. By 2017, however, the vast majority of the team were local marshals.

The number of applications also highlights the growing interest in the programme. While 2,379 people applied to become marshals in 2017, the figure rose to 4,201 in 2026. For the 10th anniversary edition of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, around 1,100 marshals are expected to work across 40 posts.

From Baku to Grands Prix Around the World

The experience gained by Azerbaijani marshals is no longer limited to their home race. Every year, around 25–30 local marshals travel abroad to work at Formula 1 events in different countries.

In 2026, two Azerbaijani marshals took part in the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time. With Monaco traditionally giving preference to local marshals and opportunities for international participants being limited, their participation was a particularly notable achievement.

Their international experience also includes the United States and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. At the 2021 United States Grand Prix in Austin, one marshal post was staffed entirely by Azerbaijani marshals. Azerbaijani fire marshals have also worked in the pit-lane area at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for two consecutive years.

International Marshals and the First All-Female Marshal Post

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has also attracted considerable interest from marshals abroad. Each year, around 400–500 international marshals apply to take part in the race.

In 2026, 110 international marshals representing 40 countries will be involved in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Women have also become an important part of the marshal team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. In 2022, one of the marshal posts at the Baku race was composed entirely of women, marking the first such example in Formula 1 history. The initiative has continued in subsequent years.

The Unsung Heroes of the Race

Marshals play a vital role in maintaining safety during Formula 1 Grands Prix. They monitor conditions around the circuit, respond quickly to incidents and help ensure that racing can continue safely and smoothly.

Training for marshals ahead of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is currently under way. Those who successfully complete the training can obtain an international licence from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). In Azerbaijan, these licences are issued by the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation.

At the first Formula 1 race in Baku, the event relied heavily on international experience. Today, Azerbaijani marshals themselves are travelling the world to work at Formula 1 Grands Prix. More than 35,000 applications, around 1,100 local marshals and international participation from 40 countries tell the story of how the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marshal programme has evolved over a decade into a major international platform.