6 Problems With The European Grand Prix In Baku

1. Clash with Le Mans

This is a biggie for motorsport fans. It seems ridiculous that the F1 race in Azerbaijan was scheduled for this weekend, knowing full well it would clash with the famous Le Mans 24 Hours - one of the “big three” alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500. Something’s not quite right there…

Le Mans begins just as Baku qualifying starts and the 24 hour race ends just as the lights go out for the F1. Hardly ideal for fans eager to get their FIA World Endurance Championship and F1 fixes. It is a real shame, but fortunately there are plenty of hours of Le Mans racing to watch, in case anyone misses part of it.

The Baku City Circuit has a beautiful backdrop and brilliant setting, taking in the modern and old sites of Baku. The track itself has some fascinating sections but one thing that annoys me is the number of 90 degree corners.

It seems 70 per cent of the turns on the circuit are pretty much the same, whether they go right or left being the only difference. I get that designing a street track and turning normal roads into a challenging venue is no easy task, but these turns are hardly going to promote overtaking.

Most of them come after medium-length straights but the braking zones won’t be heavy enough to really give drivers a chance to make a move. It’s all a bit repetitive. Sebastian Vettel said after trying it out in the simulator: “It looks exciting in some parts and others a bit more straightforward….”

3. Human rights record

F1 and human rights have been mentioned in the same sentence more times than you might think, the series racing in South Africa under apartheid and in Bahrain are two examples of the topics coming together.

Oil-rich Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku may look glitzy and glamorous but the county’s human rights record has been heavily criticised (journalists critical of the government have been imprisoned) and put under intense scrutiny, particularly after securing headline events like the European Games and F1.

4. Narrow track

F1 passing by the Old City walls in Baku will definitely be a spectacular and unusual sight, but the extremely narrow section between the eighth and 11th corners also throws up several concerns. Firstly, if a car crashes or breaks down there, the red flag will have to be waved because there is simply not enough room to get cars through while recovery work is underway.

The barrier there also looks particularly low and an airborne car could potentially damage the old walls. We certainly hope that doesn’t happen, but there are always these kind of worries. Because it’s F1, who knows what could happen? Even FIA race director Charlie Whiting admitted it could prove tricky when recovering cars.

5. Durable tyres

Pirelli said the new ultra-soft tyre, the softest in its 2016 F1 range, would be used mainly on street tracks but for some reason it won’t make an appearance Azerbaijan. Instead the medium, soft and super-soft tyres will be used. As we saw in Monaco and Canada, the compounds have strong durability and on the low grip Baku track there is a risk that drivers will be locked into one-stop strategies. Let’s hope not, because strategy has played a crucial part in the exciting racing so far in F1 2016.

6. GP2 + Baku = chaos?

We love a bit of chaos in F1 feeder championships but it all gets a bit tiring when there are constant red flags and safety cars. GP2 returns to action in Baku and a street track with some narrow sections and plenty of unknowns is a little concerning. We usually see lots of mayhem on permanent race tracks, what will we see this weekend in Azerbaijan?

While there are some concerns over the event, it is good to see F1 visiting new venues and bringing another street track into the fray. The layout itself is interesting, there are some quick sections, the narrow complex near the Old City walls is unique to say the least and there is no denying the fact there are some stunning backdrops throughout the lap. Baku mixes old and new and is a gorgeous location for race cars speeding around city streets. Hopefully it will prove me wrong and produce a good race.

What do you make of the race? Let us know in the comments below.