2016 European Grand Prix - Baku City Circuit, Fri 17 – Sun 19 Jun

[GrayGreat]

It'll be interesting to see what the track evolution is like from the first timed lap of FP1 to the pole time, in Catalunya a track the drivers and teams know very well this delta was nearly 9 seconds. In Canada FP1 the first timed lap was 1.30.4 vs a poletime of 1.12.8. Anyone care to guess? I'm sure the first few laps will be quite cautious!

The first timed lap is never done on even some reasonable pace, let alone full speed. Although track evolution can be calculated from the fastest time in FP1 onwards.

[foxmulder_ms]

Although I like the circuit, cannot help but think this is one the most corrupt countries with one of the poorest public.. paying 70 million (?) to Bernie for some advertisement with almost zero return...

Not cool.

Those stadium sections are really small. what is the capacity 10,000??

[Racer X]

The circuit itself is boring but the racing might be amazing. It might be like a spa/monaco race.

[zac510]

Although I like the circuit, cannot help but think this is one the most corrupt countries with one of the poorest public.. paying 70 million (?) to Bernie for some advertisement with almost zero return...

Not cool.

Those stadium sections are really small. what is the capacity 10,000??

With the exception of corruption, you've just described pretty much all the races on the calendar. I couldn't possibly know this for sure but I imagine the cost of runing a race overtook gate takings decades ago. Justification for it making a loss has to be quantified in many other secondary and tertiary ways.

[Vasconia]

Wait until someone clips the wall there and the cars behind pile into it with nowhere to go...

How many red flags will we have? this corner could be a total chaos.

[Jolle]

Looking at the DRS zones & especially the detection.
Two zones: on the start/finish straight and the back straight (after turn 2)

With one detection, on turn 20, you can use it to overtake on turn 1, hold it together on turn 2 and the with DRS again, defend with ease.
You're basically a sitting duck when someone is behind you on turn 20....

[ChrisDanger]

Driver's saying simulator runs reveal no braking between turn 16 and turn 1.

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-web ... uotes.html

[FrukostScones]

More pictures anyone? 87 of them, of an AMuS track walk:

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 49197.html

lovely pics, no way this track is boring... those elevation changes... and T15, heading straight into a wall at 200kph!

[Big Mangalhit]

Any pole time prediction for this new track?

[Sevach]

Somebody already baptized the thing with oil.

[Phil]

Anyone else think that from the above pictures, this track could be too dangerous given the speeds these cars could be doing and no run-off-areas at all? Maybe Singapore is not much better, but some of these pictures look beyond belief...

I'm in awe over what we might possibly witness this weekend. I'm actually inclined to bet on an unpredictable winner (i.e. not a Mercedes). Too high is the potential for chaos.

[Sevach]

https://twitter.com/redbullracing/statu ... 7206727680 Ricciardo drives Baku on the F1 2016 game(yet to be launched).

[Fulcrum]

Ricciardo simulated a 1:42, so my guess of 1:40 might be reasonable. Looks like that 2.2km straight will be 25 seconds of full throttle.

It will be interesting to see how far McLaren have progressed, because last year they had huge issues with deployment in Spa, effectively running out of stored energy for the final approach to what was the Bus Stop chicane. This track is also lengthy like Spa, and with such long straights you'd imagine it would reveal similar problems if they still exist.

[FrukostScones]

GP2 first race lap:

LOLZ (not mine)

[dodds_turbo]

Some fresh arrivals in Baku.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClAzHFnXEAAWeCT.jpg

I think it's pretty cool David Coulthard has kept up with the current drivers and travels with them. He's doing well for an ex-driver turned commentator/TV-pundit. I suppose it helps getting exclusive Channel 4 access or interviews with drivers.