2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, June 04 - 06

[Herr_Koos]

Huh ... do they want to avoid red flags/SCs because of crashes in that choke point at any cost?

Interesting decision. You could still misjudge the corner and whack the opposite barrier, of course, but this does provide a bit more breathing space. In the past, if you got an inside wheel on that kerb, it was Goodbye Mr Chips, almost like turn 15 at Monaco. Interesting that Leclerc has whacked them both.

[Just_a_fan]

Huh ... do they want to avoid red flags/SCs because of crashes in that choke point at any cost?

That's changed the whole concept of that part of the track. Removing that kerb opens up the entry to the castle section.

In such a tight part of the track, making the track wider by 1.5m makes a huge difference.

[Sieper]

I guess the headwind/tailwind preference will depend on the presence or otherwise of a "self adjusting rear wing".

More on who is the chaser VS the chasee, but yes, that wing will help.

I think Merc will be the fastest team again, so even if Max can get ahead in Either qualy or opening lap than that 2km straight will mean Lewis will win it anyway. Especially with headwind.

[JordanMugen]

Huh ... do they want to avoid red flags/SCs because of crashes in that choke point at any cost?

Curious, but that doesn't mean the kerb has been abandoned just yet. They might be waiting on a replacement kerb to be made for whatever reason.

It'll be fine for the track limit to be inside wall, but in this case the paint should really be removed entirely. If anything having the inside wall as the apex might actually increase the risk of crashes?

Interesting decision. You could still misjudge the corner and whack the opposite barrier, of course, but this does provide a bit more breathing space.

Moving the track back to the wall, increases the speed of the corner considerably! You are more likely to hit the outside wall a lot harder...

[Jolle]

Looks like they are just replacing the curb. If they would change that corner, the circuit dramatically changes all the way up to turn 13.

[Just_a_fan]

It'll be fine for the track limit to be inside wall, but in this case the paint should really be removed entirely. If anything having the inside wall as the apex might actually increase the risk of crashes?

If they leave the white line as it is around where the kerb was, the white line is the track limit and can be controlled. The drivers will take the line that allows the right hand wheels to be on the white line and the left side shouldn't be touching the wall. It'll effectively self-police but it will change the nature of that section.

[godlameroso]

Huh ... do they want to avoid red flags/SCs because of crashes in that choke point at any cost?

That's changed the whole concept of that part of the track. Removing that kerb opens up the entry to the castle section.

In such a tight part of the track, making the track wider by 1.5m makes a huge difference.

You can now fit two cars side by side through the corner.

Before you had to hop the kerb and the bounce afterwards would force you wide. Now there's no bump, and you can get right up to the wall.

It makes the corner faster on entry and allows a chasing car to take a different line.

[Big Tea]

A street track thet has had 2 years use since the last race may not be what they expect

[SirBastianVettel]

[RZS10]

It's not like the track is "wider" now since they all cluttered over the curb and almost kissed the wall anyways, it just isn't a "jump" anymore, check the "good vs great lap" video, Max used all the curb and then had to open the steering in order to do a straight hop over the curb.

Interestingly the last crashes which happened there were Leclerc and Kubica, one turned in too late and went in too hot, the other clipped the wall on the inside, neither were down to the curb.

But as Jolle and JordanMugen pointed out, they might just be replacing the curb because Masi wasn't happy with it or fixing some ankering points if it had gotten loose.

Do curbs always look as ... cheap/wonky/sharp? There's no white line yet which means that it was painted on before the curb itself got removed.

[Sevach]

Mercedes and Mclaren with a lot of downforce.

[SiLo]

Mercedes and Mclaren with a lot of downforce.

I doubt they race with that wing.

[Just_a_fan]

That's changed the whole concept of that part of the track. Removing that kerb opens up the entry to the castle section.

In such a tight part of the track, making the track wider by 1.5m makes a huge difference.

You can now fit two cars side by side through the corner.

Before you had to hop the kerb and the bounce afterwards would force you wide. Now there's no bump, and you can get right up to the wall.

It makes the corner faster on entry and allows a chasing car to take a different line.

You'd have to be mad or 100% trusting of the other driver to try to go round the outside of that corner. The exit tightens in meaning anything other than perfect driving from both drivers is going to result in one or both cars DNF.

[dans79]

That's changed the whole concept of that part of the track. Removing that kerb opens up the entry to the castle section.

In such a tight part of the track, making the track wider by 1.5m makes a huge difference.

You can now fit two cars side by side through the corner.

Before you had to hop the kerb and the bounce afterwards would force you wide. Now there's no bump, and you can get right up to the wall.

It makes the corner faster on entry and allows a chasing car to take a different line.

You'd have to be mad or 100% trusting of the other driver to try to go round the outside of that corner. The exit tightens in meaning anything other than perfect driving from both drivers is going to result in one or both cars DNF.

And a roadblock that results in a red flag!

[Just_a_fan]

You can now fit two cars side by side through the corner.

Before you had to hop the kerb and the bounce afterwards would force you wide. Now there's no bump, and you can get right up to the wall.

It makes the corner faster on entry and allows a chasing car to take a different line.

You'd have to be mad or 100% trusting of the other driver to try to go round the outside of that corner. The exit tightens in meaning anything other than perfect driving from both drivers is going to result in one or both cars DNF.

And a roadblock that results in a red flag!

Quite so.