2016 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

[FourWheelDrift]

Apparently they are saying a deal has been done - http://asia.eurosport.com/formula-1/azerbaijan-cla...

[davepoth]

If there's any justice in the world, they'll run it on the network of causeways that were built to serve the offshore oil cities.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neft_Da%C5%9Flar%C4%...

http://neilmontier.com/blog/?p=246

[confucuis]

Gaz. said:

I do hope Baku choose someone other than Tilke to design their track.

Don't they have a track for the blancpain series? Surely it would just be a modified version of that.
Here it is http://www.leblogauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/... though they would have to fix one of the chicanes as its far too tight, I think one of the Audi's crashed there and the race came to a standstill.

[belleair302]

With the current storm clouds gathering around F1, I am not sure there will be any racing as we know it in 2016.

[5potTurbo]

Baku: my mates went on a rugby tour there, played against mostly British roughnecks from the oil fields.
Some, err, "interesting sites" at night, apparently....

The general consensus of the group was that Baku was more like Baghdad!

[Eric Mc]

In my dreams I see Bernie watching the 2016 Azerbaijan GP from the communal TV room is some German state establishment.

Probably won't happen though.

[Eric Mc]

It wasn't a very long dream

[StevieBee]

5potTurbo said:

The general consensus of the group was that Baku was more like Baghdad!

I've been working on a contract there since 2011 and made several visits but has been two years between when I was last there and last week when I made a return. The rate of change has been staggering; infrastructure, buildings, roads, brand spanking new airpot terminal...everything has improved enormously. The area around which the circuit will centre is more akin to Monaco.

The work I'm doing is for a public sector client and I can tell you they are very serious about the GP and indeed, making more of a positive impact on global events.

Next year, they are hosting the first European Olympic Games (http://www.baku2015.com) so will certainly have the infrastructure to handle a Grand Prix.

When it comes to F1, I'm certainly a Spa/Monza/Silverstone chap but am quite happy to see new places added and Baku would be pretty good (plus, the apartment where I stay when I'm there overlooks what is likely to be the first corner)

[Eric Mc]

Who'll get dropped?

[DaveBowman]

Baku is a great city. It would be interesting to see if they could run it through the city, rather than have some new circuit out in some remote location.

I stayed in an apartment overlooking the fountain and the funicular railway.

[Tony2or4]

belleair302 said:

With the current storm clouds gathering around F1, I am not sure there will be any racing as we know it in 2016.

Which storm clouds are you referring to?

[Corpulent Tosser]

davepoth said:

If there's any justice in the world, they'll run it on the network of causeways that were built to serve the offshore oil cities.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neft_Da%C5%9Flar%C4%...

http://neilmontier.com/blog/?p=246

Having flown over 'the oil rocks' many times I can assure you it doesn't look like that now, years of neglect have reduced most of it to rusted ruins.

[Corpulent Tosser]

StevieBee said:

5potTurbo said:

The general consensus of the group was that Baku was more like Baghdad!

I've been working on a contract there since 2011 and made several visits but has been two years between when I was last there and last week when I made a return. The rate of change has been staggering; infrastructure, buildings, roads, brand spanking new airpot terminal...everything has improved enormously. The area around which the circuit will centre is more akin to Monaco.

It has changed since I left in 2010 having worked there for four years then, although I am not surprised as it changed (improved) a lot in those four years.

I know guys who are still there and have seen the buildings that have been erected in recent years, parts look quite good now, though walk behind the nice buildings and see the old soviet block buildings and it is an eye opener.

I don't recall it being much like Baghdad though, there's many more hookers in Baku

[MartG]

Apparently it may happen next year instead of 2016, in place of Korea

[FourWheelDrift]

Deal has been confirmed - http://www.crash.net/f1/news/207068/1/azerbaijan-t...

Locals are happy.

[StevieBee]

FourWheelDrift said:

Deal has been confirmed - http://www.crash.net/f1/news/207068/1/azerbaijan-t...

Locals are happy.

Ying and yang and all that...

[Vaud]

I can't wait to go.

I like new races.