New city circuit supposed to be very fast. Which teams and drivers should fare well? Think the circuit will have any likely pinch points causing wrecks and safety cars? I've heard there is a "pinpoint" wall placed along the circuit. Will be watching from Maranello / Modena. Me in red... My wife in silver / teal... Robb
OK it will be hot! https://weather.com/weather/weekend/l/AJXX0001:1:AJ BBC overview and track map. Its a Mercedes track it seems - Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Formula 1 sets off on a journey into the unknown - BBC Sport Brake and tire wear for all my friends! Seems like a course with short turns and long straights so speed will matter. Can Williams find a way to out qualy Red Bull and or Ferrari. A touch wishful but fun to ponder! Ok worse than I thought for Red Bull - Red Bull 'will lose 1.2s on Baku F1 straight' - Marko http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124780/red-bull-will-lose-12s-on-baku-straight Qualy - LH with the momentum from Canada Bottas - My 'dark horse' surprise in qualy Kimi - maybe he gets it right Race LH - momentum Vettel - better in the race than Kimi Max - Fearless and willing to explore track limits more than others(That might catch him out here as well!)
I never before saw Marko making comments like that. I think he's sadbagging a little. Max indeed will be fearless but his trackrecord on street circuits ( Macau, Monaco) is not that impressive. If, however, he keeps his can on the track I predict a top three finish for him. The other two top three finisher probably be Hami and Rosberg.
A new circuit and none of the teams have any data, it might be an equalizer. Or Mercedes might just annihilate everyone.
I wonder if it's been 'scanned' for the simulators? I think it looks awesome! Kind of Monaco 'heavy'! Don't screw up! Very different to the miles of tarmac runoff areas ala the usual Tilke domes we're getting accustomed to. Cheers, Ian
I hope that tower in the pic is not the final version of the track. That looks awful dangerous... actually... that entire pic looks dangerous. "Ok worse than I thought for Red Bull - Red Bull 'will lose 1.2s on Baku F1 straight' - Marko http://www.autosport.com/news/report...-baku-straight" I think Merc is going to run away with this race. All this talk from Toto about how RB and Ferrari are on pace with them is nonsense. They're going to power done those straights and add tenths to their lead every lap. Their car may not be as good as RB in all the twisty bits, but it's certainly no slouch and probably better than Ferrari. I think the real question will be how much did RB really catch up to Ferrari power-wise. If they're close, Ferrari could have a really tough day with Ric and Max both having a lot to prove for different reasons. The track is wide so it could reward those with the most balls who brake last and risk taking out the castle. We'll see. If there are safety cars in the race, and it certainly looks like a track where there easily could be, I'm not sure what's going to happen. If the strategy changes and there's a need for quick changes and last minute calls, Williams doesn't have a chance and Ferrari will likely suffer as well. Williams has this recent history of making calls that are just 180 degrees from what they should have been and Ferrari hasn't done much better when it's counted and has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory more than a couple times now.
Seems you have others who feel the same! Force India will thrive at European Grand Prix, says Johnny Herbert | F1 News Ferrari need to qualify well and get ahead of Williams and Force India. Behind them they will be in trouble and suffer with dirty air and tire wear.
I disagree, Ferrari were right there with Merc at Canada which is a HP track and somewhat similar to this - long straights with slow corners. I think we'll see somewhat similar results to what was in Canada but with the warmer temps, teams that struggled with getting the tires turned on should actually be in better shape than they were there.
If you look closely, you can see the marks along the left side of the road where the concrete barriers were yet to be installed, and they extend all the way past the tower. I'll bet there will be tires in front of the walls on the right side of the photo. Anyone who doesn't go through there single-file will be an idiot. Still, F1 needs to figure out a way to add SAFER barriers to the temporary concrete walls that go up along temporary circuits.
The track is certainly interesting,it is unlike anything else on the calendar. There is the possibility for some remarkable results--car set-ups, team strategies and exceptional driving. F1 needs to shake things up, maybe it will happen in Baku.
2016 Baku City Circuit Track: 6,003 Kilometres / 3.730 Miles 51 laps - 306,049 Km / 190.179 Miles Startline / Finishline Offset: 104 m / 341' Two DRS Zones, with single detection point located at Turn 20. 1st Zone: 630 m / 2067' before Turn 3 braking point. 2nd Zone: 730 m / 2395' before Turn 1 braking point. Image Unavailable, Please Login
F1 European GP talking points | F1 News Drivers and staff first looks with pics - http://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/12433/10315280/first-impressions-of-baku-live