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It's alright, but not outstanding.
 
That looks pretty cool :D

EDIT: Looking at photos of the area this would look epic. The layout looks really good too if the scale's right in my head. Is this really a go-er or an example of Bernie getting paid either way?
 
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The layout kinda looks like a shovel, and some of the boxiness make me think of the Phoenix street circuit.

That being said, it looks like a welcome and unique addition to the F1 calendar.
 
I don't mind it. It's not what I would have done, but I'll give it a try. I'm annoyed by some of the reactions elsewhere on the internet; sometimes I think Tilke could have designed Spa from scratch and people would still blast him for it.

I find the prospect of a two-kilometre flat-out stretch intriguing; similarly, there is said to be an intensely narrow, uphill section. Judging by topographic maps of the city, it looks like the sequence from Turn 5 to Turn 12 is that sequence.
 
It doesn't look outstanding from the photo, although T7-12 look interesting as does the long straight down to Turn 1. I think that will be the most interesting part of it due to it's length.

I'll give this track a chance when it comes out in '16 but it looks like it might be on par with India as the worst F1 track in recent times.
 
18 and 19 look fun, especially with turn 7 in the way of any runoff. I dunno, but I'm optimistic. I won't really judge a circuit properly until I've seen it in action.

But do you know what the worst thing about it is? The GP name.
I dunno, we could just go with Azerbaijani Grand Prix, that would be the normal and correct thing. Nope - how about we call it Baku European Grand Prix?
Well, for starters, I know Azerbaijan are desperate to be European and join the EU, but only about 10% of the country is geographically Europe (which is fine, that makes them European), but Baku is in the Asian bit. For something as general as a continent, at least make sure the track is actually in that continent before using the name.
 
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18 and 19 look fun, especially with turn 7 in the way of any runoff. I dunno, but I'm optimistic. I won't really judge a circuit properly until I've seen it in action.

But do you know what the worst thing about it is? The GP name.
I dunno, we could just go with Azerbaijani Grand Prix, that would be the normal and correct thing. Nope - how about we call it Baku European Grand Prix?
Well, for starters, I know Azerbaijan are desperate to be European and join the EU, but only about 10% of the country is geographically Europe (which is fine, that makes them European), but Baku is in the Asian bit. For something as general as a continent, at least make sure the track is actually in that continent before using the name.
I'm pretty sure that Aliyev put some extra money in Bernie's pockets to have it named European GP. It's one of his pet peeves to show the rest of the world how modern and EU oriented his country is.
 
WANTED: Imola, Istanbul, Jerez

Willing to swap: Yas Marina, Buddh, Bahrain, Catalunya, Monaco
 
Valencia, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are all held up as examples of horrible circuits. All of them have produced great racing in the past. Likewise, Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka are all presented as phenomenal circuits, but all have produced terrible racing in the past.

When did Valencia provide great racing?
 
There is no recipe for good racing. Arguably, Tilke's biggest mistake is that he has tried to break circuit design down into a mathematical equation.

"Good" circuits can produce bad racing, just as "bad" circuits can produce good racing. The solution, then, is not to change anything about the circuits, but to change the cars. It's cheaper, easier, more effective, and more certain to have the desired outcome.
 
I'd argue that the only real recipe for good racing in terms of the track itself as opposed to the cars is a dynamic track. Look at what happens when it rains, or when the tarmac in Montreal suddenly decides that it wants to be gravel. That is what makes for good racing; however, as @prisonermonkeys just said, you can't break circuit design down into a mathematical equation. If every race is wet or every track's circuit starts to degrade as the race goes on, what you get is monotony, as opposed to more excitement.
 
It also looks like they're planning a Monza-style pit entry; i.e., straight in. At the fastest point of the circuit.

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Fortunately, the streets here are about seven lanes wide, so they should have plenty of space to move aside and slow down.
 
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