Bernie Ecclestone says Formula One arrives in Azerbaijan for this weekend’s Grand Prix of Europe with a clear conscience, despite calls from human rights groups for the sport to make a stand against its hosts.
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Preparations in the Azerbaijani capital for the 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe are close to completion, Tom Butcher, Baku City Circuit’s (BCC) head of venue delivery, stated, AzerTag reports.
The 3.7-mile circuit, the second longest on the calendar, promises to be one of the fastest street circuits in the world, with one straight well over a mile long.
“Maybe the circuit was supposed to be the other way around”, he continued.
Asked whether they would see it out, with Azerbaijan suffering from the slump in oil prices, he replied: “I think there’s more chance of them doing seven years than me doing seven years”. “It’s just another new track. This is an opportunity to improve Formula One’s image and to help people in Azerbaijan, rather than just profiting and helping some very corrupt people”. The result is a freaky mix of low-speed corners – some ideally suited to Monaco levels of downfoce – and long, high-speed straights that closer resemble the flat-out blasts of Monza. And they don’t make them like that. “They know exactly the speeds”, added the German.
“It’s super wide in some places, as wide as a motorway nearly in some places”.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was similarly unperturbed by questions over safety, saying he was “thrilled” at the prospect of driving the track for the first time in practice.
“I think it looks exciting. I really like it here and I’m sure the fans will too”. Usually they are very tricky, bumpy, rough, very narrow places.
Fernando Alonso has been acting as an ambassador for Baku, and the Spaniard has been closely following the construction of the circuit.
Jenson Button has expressed concerns about the lack of run-off areas around much of the Baku track.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has not had the best of luck at street circuits in the past, retiring at Monaco two years in a row, and knows the vehicle set-up will be crucial for Sunday’s race.
The 85-year-old added: “Very happy with it”.
“On a street circuit you want lots of downforce but with such a long straight you have to find a good compromise”. You can’t please them all.
“It’s always interesting to go somewhere new”.
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“The great thing about Baku is that it’s new for everyone – all the teams and all the drivers – so it’s a case of mastering the circuit better than your competition”, said Wehrlein. But there is not much you can really do as there is a building in the way.
