Formula 1: An unusual GP of Europe
The GP circuit is entering new territory: Azerbaijan, which lies on the eastern border of Europe, is the 32nd country to be allowed to host a Formula 1 World Championship round. However, this could bring one or two surprises. It is debatable what sense it makes to include a European Grand Prix in far-flung Azerbaijan in the calendar. For years, there [...]
One can debate what sense it makes to include a European Grand Prix in the calendar in far-flung Azerbaijan. There hasn't been a Grand Prix de France for years, and elsewhere in Europe there are plenty of attractive race tracks waiting to host a Formula One race. But money rules the world, especially that of Bernie Ecclestone. The fact that the date falls on the same weekend as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the blessing of the FIA, is not only due to the need to find a gap in the calendar for a 21st GP. It is also about competing with the French, whose race enjoys worldwide attention and media presence. After all, the start is not until and exactly when (3 p.m.) the winner rolls across the finish line at Le Mans.
The race through the city goes at up to 340 km/h
The new race in the capital city of Baku could cause some surprises because of its unusual track layout. At 6.001 kilometers long, the Baku City Circuit is only six meters shorter than the longest current GP circuit at Spa-Francorchamps. Many slow corners (20 in total) alternate with fast straights where speeds of up to 340 km/h are expected - and all this in the middle of a city! This makes the circuit a combination of Monza and Monaco, corresponding to the two opposite ends of the downforce scale. The teams are therefore challenged to find an ideal compromise.
At Mercedes, it is suspected that the downforce values will be closer to Monza than Monaco. After all, it makes no sense to sacrifice top speed for a fast lap in qualifying - and thus a good grid position. This would make overtaking more difficult and make it easier for the opponents. With so many braking maneuvers on a lap, braking will be a hot topic, as it was last Sunday in Montreal. The nature of the corners and the new asphalt also make it difficult to warm up the tires. Mercedes is expecting a lap time of under 1:50 minutes, with full gas at 49 percent, which also means high fuel consumption.
3D computer animation of Baku City Circuit
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Photos: Archive
