2016 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan thread

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 06 Jun 2016, 15:16

Supersofts tiem! Compulsory tires are medium and soft.

If mods wants to change it then whatever. At least I'm not the one who typed the [insert a bad word here] race title.

Post by **Nuppiz** » 06 Jun 2016, 15:20

How about we finish off with the Canadian GP before embarking on this, though?

Thread locked until Monday after the Canadian GP.

LolLola · Post by **LolLola** » 15 Jun 2016, 13:51

Weather forecast: Dead dry, which means it will rain, right? Right?

No....

AdrianBelmonte_ · Post by **AdrianBelmonte_** » 15 Jun 2016, 14:49

I think this will be a Dallas '84 revival, but with lower temperatures :glasses:

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 15 Jun 2016, 15:36

I can certainly see the temporary tarmac over the cobbles being ripped up. That will be amusing.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 15 Jun 2016, 16:33

I predict a huge boredom since this is going to be an one stop race and I predict the medium tyres will survive forever, so the drivers could repeat what Vettel did in the Italian Grand Prix of 2010 season.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 15 Jun 2016, 19:31

I am going to nominate the narrow section for reject of the race now..... there that's that jinxed now and its going to be the best thing ever....

watka · Post by **watka** » 16 Jun 2016, 11:52

WeirdKerr wrote:I am going to nominate the narrow section for reject of the race now..... there that's that jinxed now and its going to be the best thing ever....

I'm definitely expecting Macau-esque results. No idea how they are going to recover cars from there.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 16 Jun 2016, 18:12

Early reject of the race from me is The FIA... For bathplugging clashing with LE MANS!!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 16 Jun 2016, 20:38

And apparently the pit entry is 100 m after a chicane, which an Autosport article is suggesting could be dangerous. Or else an opportunity to make up or lose time during the race.

Peteroli34 · Post by **Peteroli34** » 16 Jun 2016, 22:06

Watching a lap of the Circuit from onbaord the medical car, i reckon turn 15 could be where people are more likely to crash a tight downhill corner after a fast section. Also i can see cars going straight on at turn 3 it looks tricky to get a braking point all the surroundings seem the same.

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 16 Jun 2016, 23:04

Codemasters BETAing their way around the new track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAMmQr7FjSc

AustralianStig · Post by **AustralianStig** » 17 Jun 2016, 01:16

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/butto ... 88788/?s=1

I'm seriously looking forward to this race, but I have a bad feeling about it.

AdrianBelmonte_ · Post by **AdrianBelmonte_** » 17 Jun 2016, 09:22

Lap 1 here will be AWESOME!

PS: VERY AWESOME!

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:07

Red flag #1 comes with ~23 minutes left in P1.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:38

Crap marshals, no cranes. Great planning for a street circuit. They're going to be in the shite when there's a jam up by the castle. Fortunately Ricciardo had his accident on a nice wide section and it still took them ages to move the car.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:43

First impression of the track is moderately positive from a driving perspective. Good elevation change, lots of variety in the width of the track, the corners are pretty interesting, and the walls are nice and intimidating. I still think the only flags we'll see are green and red, though....

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:44

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:First impression of the track is moderately positive from a driving perspective. Good elevation change, lots of variety in the width of the track, the corners are pretty interesting, and the walls are nice and intimidating. I still think the only flags we'll see are green and red, though....

And a lot of blue flags too?

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:47

AustralianStig wrote:http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/button-f1-safety-has-gone-backwards-at-baku-788788/?s=1

I'm seriously looking forward to this race, but I have a bad feeling about it.

Me too.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 17 Jun 2016, 11:06

I come back from the bathroom and there's already another red flag, now in GP2. This could just get hilarious.

Post by **Ataxia** » 17 Jun 2016, 11:38

Baku and Motorland Aragon: the two contenders for "Best Wall at a Racing Circuit"

I can't choose, it's just too close to wall..I mean, uh, call.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 17 Jun 2016, 11:56

Ataxia wrote:I can't choose, it's just too close to wall..I mean, uh, call.

If I were approaching either of those I think I'd be bricking it.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 17 Jun 2016, 12:29

CoopsII wrote:
Ataxia wrote:I can't choose, it's just too close to wall..I mean, uh, call.

If I were approaching either of those I think I'd be bricking it.

I'd be mortar-fied if I crashed into either to be honest.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 17 Jun 2016, 15:20

AndreaModa wrote:
CoopsII wrote:
Ataxia wrote:I can't choose, it's just too close to wall..I mean, uh, call.

If I were approaching either of those I think I'd be bricking it.

I'd be mortar-fied if I crashed into either to be honest.

Indeed. You'd be lucky if you just ended up pointing the wrong way. You know, pointing.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 17 Jun 2016, 15:34

Mind you, all of this talk about racing is pointless if we have to kerb our enthusiasm following the problems with the track earlier.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 17 Jun 2016, 16:10

AustralianStig wrote:http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/button-f1-safety-has-gone-backwards-at-baku-788788/?s=1

I'm seriously looking forward to this race, but I have a bad feeling about it.

The safety issues mentioned in the article have been obvious as soon as the first track sketches have been posted a year ago. Seems like the members of the GPDA just weren't looking at that back then. Especially that right-hand kink in the fast section of the track seemed worrisome then. I haven't seen any on-track footage yet, so I don't know if that is still there but the mention of Turn 14 by Button in the article makes me believe it is.
It is too bad the drivers have been screwed over by the FIA, Bernie and Tilke, too. Everybody knows better and they still did it, it's a shame. And now, the race must go ahead because the government paid so well. The planning errors evoke distant memories of guardrails falling off in practise at Montjuich Park in 1975 ... Hopefully, the spectators are safe.

Here's wishing everybody a good and safe race, and that track safety will be improved considerably for the next race on this circuit. I will not be watching.

IceG · Post by **IceG** » 17 Jun 2016, 17:19

I watched Practice 2.

The narrow section through the old city is potentially a disaster zone. Most drivers were jumping the kerbs on entry and so were unable to steer properly to avoid the exit wall if they got it wrong. I think it was Gutierrez who clipped the exit wall on the way through, any harder and the track would have been totally blocked as he would have lost a wheel and spun across the track.

Cars were reversing back onto the circuit from the run-off areas - that will need some careful marshalling during the race.and strong penalties for those who don't slow for yellow flags.

The kerb covers were bouncing up (like that drain cover in China) causing tyre damage.

And the marshals themselves looked completely out of their depth - when Rosberg's car failed it took them ages to just wheel it backwards through the safety wall amidst lots of shouting and hand waving.

It does look like it could be an epic race as the mix of ultra-long straights and street circuit will separate those who can from the rest; just hope no-one is hurt in the inevitable pile-up(s).

lance_rambert · Post by **lance_rambert** » 17 Jun 2016, 19:08

So, judging from practice, I guess Bernie found F1's equivalent of the Macau Grand Prix? This could be a complete clusterf___. The "Baku Big One" is going to be a thing this weekend, probably. We're just not going to get DW's trademark "Oh no!" and his other random noises when it happens.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 17 Jun 2016, 19:21

I've got high hopes for this to be a genuinely Rejectful event and for Rio to unrejectify himself.

Holey buckets, if enough of the big-boys go out he could end up wi-

If I think it, it may not happen so...

lance_rambert · Post by **lance_rambert** » 17 Jun 2016, 21:37

What. The. bathplug.

Linking to the pic, because it's huge. Those of you working in welding or similar trades, prepare to cringe.

The questionable marshalling and track upkeep isn't just confined to practice it seems. :facepalm:

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 17 Jun 2016, 22:18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPMXqsUMCro <<<< :facepalm:

the history book on the shelf is always repeating its self

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 18 Jun 2016, 06:57

lance_rambert wrote:What. The. bathplug.

Linking to the pic, because it's huge. Those of you working in welding or similar trades, prepare to cringe.

The questionable marshalling and track upkeep isn't just confined to practice it seems.

I think that's brilliant. The last time I saw someone welding like that it was Vasquez in Aliens.

IceG · Post by **IceG** » 18 Jun 2016, 10:35

FP3

Bottas' barge board and side pod badly damaged by a loose duct cover...

Rosberg hit 350km on the straight...

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 18 Jun 2016, 11:01

Pérez has a similar crash to Ricciardo to cause a hybrid red-chequered flag.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:08

This track looks lit. Lewis and Grosjean into escape roads. Love new tracks.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:20

Manor 17th and 18th. Hooray for Mercedes

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:26

"P18, Pascal, good job. You've beaten Button and both Renaults."
"Ja, wunderbar!"
"...Rio's P17, though."
"*German expletives containing ß*"

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:27

I feel like surely Grosjean and Maldonado didn't make that much of a difference. Geez.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:38

Oh man we can see a lot of bad errors. This race could be awesome.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 18 Jun 2016, 13:58

With 2:05 left in Q3, Hamilton crashes to bring out red flag #3.