The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1 

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The future turns 5 and 6 of Baku:

CcS-lpHXEAEYpfY.jpg
 
GTPorsche
That's so narrow.
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No, the chicanes at Singapore are narrow. If you look at the cars as a reference point, it's actually reasonably wide. This looks like a pretty quick chicane.

Meanwhile, here's an aerial shot of the main straight:

CcXRGSLWIAEOsk1.jpg


Full credit to the organisers for trying to generate interest.
 
I forgot how sarcasm is lost in text.

Maybe I should have further indicated exactly how narrow I thought it wasn't by stating how much a large vehicle could fit through there.
 
That photo isn't the narrow bit though. Turns 8 to 13 are ridiculous
 
Is that really part of the track? No way FIA would have given a track with cobblestone surface a Grade 1 rating.
 
They are laying asphalt down over the cobblestones, and have rendered what it should look like with the protection too. And the F1 cars of 2009 apparently...

turn-9.jpg


At the narrowest point, it will be 7.6 metres - 4 cars wide.
 
I wondered if those streets had any historic preservation rules, I guess not.
 
I saw it mentioned that the asphalt is to protect the cobblestones. I would hazard a guess that the asphalt will be laid onto sheets that will then be placed over the road and welded together.
 
I thought new tracks weren't allowed to be less than 12 metres wide?

Or does that not count for street circuits?
 
Roger the Horse
I thought new tracks weren't allowed to be less than 12 metres wide?

Or does that not count for street circuits?
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Doesn't Singapore have a section thats quite a bit narrower than 12 meters?

Aside from that, 12m minimum seems rediculous. The track is supposed to be for racing cars, not delivery trucks.
 
Roger the Horse
I thought new tracks weren't allowed to be less than 12 metres wide?
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Only for the main straight. It's to give the cars room to move around at the start in case someone bogs down and evasive action is needed. Especially if there's a grassy verge - two wheels on the grass with all that traction isn't just flirting with disaster, it's taking disaster out for dinner and a movie.

Pezzarinho17
I saw it mentioned that the asphalt is to protect the tyres from the cobblestones.
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Fixed that for you.

GTPorsche
Maybe I should have further indicated exactly how narrow I thought it wasn't by stating how much a large vehicle could fit through there.
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Is a wide chicane really such a bad thing? From the looks of things, it'll be pretty fast.
 
Not saying it's bad at all. Just that there was a lot of talk about how the track would be narrow.
 
Pezzarinho17
They are laying asphalt down over the cobblestones, and have rendered what it should look like with the protection too. And the F1 cars of 2009 apparently...

turn-9.jpg


At the narrowest point, it will be 7.6 metres - 4 cars wide.
Click to expand...

Sweet jesus, so we're going to have brand new Asphalt on a couple of corners that I'd struggle to get my daughters buggy around without crashing. Remember the first few session at COTA and how everyone was sliding, have fun with that in a section that tight!
 
m8h3r
Remember the first few session at COTA and how everyone was sliding, have fun with that in a section that tight!
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Bravery through there is going to be key to a quick lap.
 
Which isn't that good when even a minor accident would likely result in a completely blocked track and a red flag.
 
GTPorsche
Not saying it's bad at all. Just that there was a lot of talk about how the track would be narrow.
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Half of the track is narrow, half is very wide. It's an interesting mix. If it was all really narrow the race just wouldn't happen. There should be space to overtake at the beginning of the lap, but then it's single file for ages.
 
Pezzarinho17
They are laying asphalt down over the cobblestones, and have rendered what it should look like with the protection too. And the F1 cars of 2009 apparently...

turn-9.jpg
Click to expand...

They've distorted the width of those cars to create a bunch of marketing lies. Prepare for a lack of overtaking.

And yet, I welcome something that's actually different. Make some of the best drivers and most advanced cars in the world deal with real-world conditions!

I don't think a continuous 12-meter width is possible for street circuits. By US standards, that's about 3.5 lanes of interstate highway (four lanes of standard at-grade roadway).
 
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prisonermonkeys
Only really up around the Old City. And even then, it widens after the cobblestones.
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Exactly, half will be nigh-on-impossible to get through, while the space is in the 90 degree bends. Its best to just wait and see.
 
Jimlaad43
Exactly, half will be nigh-on-impossible to get through, while the space is in the 90 degree bends. Its best to just wait and see.
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Not sure what you're on about? The narrow bit last for 3-4 turns, maybe 5 turns at most. The rest of the track is pretty damn wide. It's not the "half will be nigh-on impossible" that you're making it out to be.
 
i dont think Baku is a suitable venue, but hey, what does that matter, as long as they have the cash right?
 
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So apparently GP2 will be racing at Baku.
Baku.jpg

This narrow section combined with GP2 craziness? Oh dear...
 
To be fair, the GP2 grid is looking pretty spectacular this year. There's (so far) only two drivers - Philo Paz Armand and Daniël de Jong - who shouldn't be there.

But I fully expect Artem Markelov to not only have a go down the inside through that section, but pull a move off.
 
de Jong is still taking up a spot on the GP2 grid? What's this, his 5th season now?
 
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