This weekend F1 returns to Baku, Azerbaijan on western shore of the Caspian Sea for the second European Grand Prix in the modern era. This circuit is notable for its long power-hungry straights as it works its way around centuries-old architecture.
McLaren Honda go into the weekend battered and bruised after giving up what looked like their first point of the season in Canada with Fernando Alonso’s late retirement. The bright spot is that Honda will finally be delivering at least part of its much-needed and much-anticipated 2017 engine upgrade package (it is unclear whether this will be in one or both cars). While no one knows yet what the upgrade will deliver on track, it is probably fair to say that points are unlikely on a circuit like this.
Elsewhere on the grid, with Mercedes having delivered an engine upgrade for Canada, they may have gained the edge over Ferrari until they upgrade their engine. We can’t realistically expect Red Bull to be challenging for P3-P4 here given their Renault power unit, instead, we may see Force India challenging their territory. From there, it’s anyone’s guess how Williams, Toro Rosso, and Haas will mix it up.
U.S. TV TIMES:
Practice 1, Friday June 23th, 5:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Practice 2, Friday June 23th, 9:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
Practice 3, Saturday June 24th, 6:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Qualifying, Saturday June 24th, 9:00AM
EST
,
CNBC
Race, Sunday June 25th, 8:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
CIRCUIT
INFORMATION:
Lap Data
Circuit length: 6.006km/3.732 miles
Turns: 20
Number of laps: 51
Distance to Turn One: 202m/0.126 miles
Longest straight: 2.1km/1.305 miles
Car Performance
Top speed: 340km/h/211mph
Full throttle: 56 per cent
ERS
demands: High
Brake wear: Medium
Gear changes: 62 per lap /3,162 per race
Fuel consumption: 2.1kg per lap, making it one of the highest of the season
DRS
zones: Two, on the approaches to Turns One and Three
Key corner: Turn 15, a deceptively fast left-hander, through which entry speeds will be high and the walls will be close. Turn Eight is another notable corner, where the apex is a medieval wall and the track is only two car widths wide
Fastest corner: 170km/h (106mph), Turn 16
Slowest corner: 86km/h (53mph), Turn Eight
Strategy
Pitlane length: 295m/0.183 miles, estimated time loss 22s
Tire choices: Medium, Soft, Supersoft
2016 (V6
TURBO
ERA
) RESULTS:
Laps: 51
Pole: 1:42.578, Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
Fast race lap: 1:46.485, Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
Podium
1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2. Sebasitan Vettel, Ferrari
3. Sergio Perez, Force India
CURRENT
STANDINGS:
Drivers
1. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 141
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 129
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 93
4. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 73
5. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, 67
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 222
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 214
3. Red Bull Racing, 112
4. Sahara Force India, 71
5. Scuderia Toro Rosso, 29
Reply