This is why I hate all the Tilke designs, lets take a track with nice sweeping corners and replace them with hard angled corners for absolutely no reason. The stadium section isn't particularly offensive to me since I can actually understand that part of the design, it's the other parts of the track I just don't understand.
Take a look at these two videos, the '89 layout and the 2015 layout
Why on earth did they need to square off almost every corner on the circuit?
These tracks suck for racing because the layout itself is counter productive, how can you be expected to hold it on the outside of a corner where the apex literally stands out like a mountain and the corner has no banking?
If you must re-profile an old circuit why not at least progressively camber the corner and give them smooth radii? That way a car can hold the outside line because there's more grip out there and hence exit the corner at the same speed as the car running the 'faster' geometrical line. The way these current circuits are the only line is the geometrical one and because the apex is defined by the track it's not possible to try different lines because they simply wont work (hairpins aside).
Edit: Before anyone tries to pick holes in my comment about the apex it's pretty obvious what I mean. A corner with a triangular point on it has a clearly defined 'apex', a corner which has a rounded traditional inside edge, as in, an arc has what can be described as an 'apex' but nothing prevents you running around the arc if you like, something which isn't possible with the triangular shaped corners.
I tend to agree with most of this post. I quite like the new circuit, but still...
I too don't understand the trend of "squaring off" corners. Look at COTA. Aside from the esses, everything is angular corners...even the long right sweeper near the end of the lap.
A couple things I've thought of though:
-are square or round corners better for overtaking? You suggest round is better, as there is a better chance of seeing two lines. However, what about the braking? If the apex is round, it means you can carry more speed, which means you need to brake less. To me, the shorter the braking zone, the more difficult it is to make a move.
-when talking about an outside line, you always have to ask, is the line actually there? Is there enough grip, even with camber, to maintain the speed. The biggest issues with outside lines is the lack of rubber layed down, and worse, the dust and marbles. Passes around the outside are extremely difficult (why we marvel at them so much), and I don't necessarily think having more rounded corners would result in more passes round the outside, or even attempts.
-banking is a tricky proposition. You either need natural land formations (and Mexico City is flat as a pancake...hell it used to be a lake I think), or you need a lot of time and money, mostly time. To build banking that won't settle, crack, and turn into a complete mess after 1 year, you need to build the ground up over time, and allow it to settle properly. This is a process that can a very long time, possibly years. I just don't think the promoters for the Mexico GP had that kind of time or budget.
-banked sweepers are looked at sort of sideways in some circles, as when things go wrong in a banked sweeper, it tends to get messy, especially if the upper lip of the banking ends up acting like a launch pad.
All that said though, I do agree you. I don't know if anything I said above is actually relevant, but it's my guesses as to why we are seeing the trend of square, angular corners.
I think turns 3, 4, 5 and 6 could have been left with a much more round profile. I also don't think there was any reason to eliminate the first two esses. I believe someone said safety was the reason they were removed...but I'm pretty sure those two esses were slower than the straight which is there now.
Lastly, going back to
@prisonermonkeys redesign of he stadium. Do you think part of the reason they went with the design they did is to control the speed and angle at which the cars approach the exit of the stadium, which is actually quite a narrow choke point. I can't imagine the FIA wanting the cars carrying speed and changing direction immediately before darting between two packed grandstands...seems like a recipe for disaster no?
I do agree that T12 should be sharper, as it would lead to more passing, and repassing through the stadium. As it is right now, it doesn't seem like much of a passing spot, and I foresee someone going off on the left of the exit of 12. Hopefully guys can find slightly different lines through 12 so they can make a dive at 13. I just don't know if that short straight and following braking zone for 13 is long enough for a car to be able to work it's way along side. We shall see I guess.
