Baku, Azerbaijan, April 26
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With a few days to go until 2018 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, F1 pilots have shared the impressions of the Baku track and expectations.
Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo believes that the trickiest thing in Baku is braking.
"Baku is different to other street circuits – because there are places where you can pass. Actually, lots of places where you can pass. As opposed to Monaco and Singapore where there’s not many places to overtake really," he said, Formula 1 website reports.
"The trickiest thing in Baku is braking. There’s so many braking points where you have to commit and you have to brake as late as you can – but there’s no room for error. Once you’ve committed to that braking point, if you’ve locked a wheel, you’re in the wall. I’d say the hardest part about Baku is finding the limit with braking, and just having that confidence," he noted.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen recalled that last year was a very unfortunate weekend for him.
"It was a shame because the car felt really good but I encountered a lot of problems which ultimately meant I missed out on a potential podium, perhaps even a win. I’m hoping this year I can make up for that lost opportunity," he said.
Verstappen further noted that Baku is a cool place.
"It’s a nice circuit even though it isn’t ideally suited to our car. The straight is so long which means we miss out on some valuable time there. Last year I think we managed to drive around our problems really well and therefore be competitive come the race day," he said.
“The castle section looks great on TV and is also a lot of fun to drive. It is really tight so you have to be precise turning in as there is no room for error, especially with the wider cars we have now," he added.
Sauber pilot Marcus Ericsson, for his part, said that the race in Baku will be the first street race of the season.
"It is quite a cool track, with a good mix of high-speed sectors and challenging corners. What is special about the track is that it features some twisty parts, mainly around the castle. The track is very narrow there, and you must be very precise as a driver," he said.
Another challenge, according to him, will be to set up the car to suit the demands of the circuit.
"Tyre management will be a key factor, as the degradation of the tyres is quite high during the race. I look forward to going to Baku, and continuing our strong performance from the first three races of the year," he said.
Charles Leclerc, in turn, said that he looks forward to going back to Baku.
"I had a strong race there last year, when I was competing in Formula 2, and feel quite comfortable on the Baku City Circuit. I particularly like city tracks. They are challenging for drivers, as you cannot afford to make any errors. The atmosphere there is great, and the view of the old town and castle is spectacular," he said.
He noted that it will be interesting to learn about the tyre management during the practice sessions.
"This will prepare us for the challenges of this circuit, and allow us to work on finding the right set-up and perform well in the race. I’m excited to be back in the car," he said.
Formula 1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan will be held in Baku on April 27-29.