The Official 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Vaud]

2017 FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX

Date(s): Fri 23 Jun - Sun 25 Jun 2017

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4 with their usual build-up beforehand;:

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0945	0955	1000	1300
Practice 2	Fri	1345	1355	1400	1700
Practice 3	Sat	1045	1055	1100	1400
Qualifying	Sat	1300	1255	1400	1700
Race	Sun	1230	1300	1400	1700

With a note that there is a Channel 4 special on Saturday at 12.25pm – F1 meets … Toto Wolff



Tyre choices are Red Supersoft, Yellow Soft and White Medium



Live Timing here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Event timings, steward decisions, technical reports and laptimes for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/races/201...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Azerbaijan/Bak...

Edited by Vaud on Tuesday 20th June 11:33

[Vaud]

I think the front battle is pretty straightforward between Hamilton, Vettel and Bottas (I have a sneaky feeling that it will suit Bottas)

The mid field should be very interesting.

Shame I'm missing this race as I had a VIP invite! Doh!

I quite like it as a circuit, it's a fascinating country as well.

[Vaud]

Drew106 said:

Mistake on the Practice 3 start time. Should be 11:55 for Channel 4.

I'm sure everyone could have worked that out themselves, but thought I'd point it out anyway...

Actually it is 10:55

I have corrected, thank you!

[Vaud]

T S Magnum said:

In my opinion you're wrong in one sense - I live in Baku and have been to Monaco several times. Monaco is indeed nicer but Baku is also nice.

Personally I think Monaco is concrete dump. Nice firework displays but mostly over rated. Some much nicer towns in the area.

Off to Baku next year - some fascinating history

[Vaud]

Doink said:

Redbull 1 and 2 - who'd of thought it, engine update working then?

Ultra soft tyres, Ferrari and Mercedes have only run one step harder so far?

[Vaud]

HustleRussell said:

No Ultra Soft this weekend, Medium, Soft and Super Soft only. Vettel the only driver in the top 7 not to use the Super Softs in that session. Unfortunately the graphic doesn't tell you which tyre the driver's fastest lap was set on.

Palmer 1.3s slower than Hulkenberg, 'Favoured' Ericsson 9/10ths slower than Wehrlein...

Stroll's Canada confidence boost has helped, he's only 7/10ths slower than Massa- and I presume Baku is new to him?

Sorry, I meant that RB had used the softest compound, but Mercedes and Ferrari haven't.

[Vaud]

GuitarTech said:

It boggles my mind that somebody thought that Baku was suitable for F1 racing at all. After seeing the Perez crash I wonder what's going to happen on that bit of the track if someone crashes when they're all bunched up in the first few laps. There'll only be a handfull of cars left for the re-start. What were they thinking? Or am I being a wimp? It does look much narrower than Monaco, or is that an optical illution?

It was fine last year?

[Vaud]

I wonder if the shadows are causing significant temp changes in the tarmac (which is temporary / laid over cobbles IIRC) on that bend - and so grip?

[Vaud]

Hungrymc said:

Makes sense, I'm just surprised they don't manage to do some controlled failures in the suspension arms / drive shaft to try and protect the gearbox and where it's mounted - maybe that is the controlled failure and they avoid any risk to the engine etc - maybe as you say it was quicker than I thought.

Too much energy to design in a controlled failure in my (non engineer, armchair expert view) - the variety of loads on the drive shaft must be huge...

[Vaud]

Crafty_ said:

Rowland's penalty yesterday was bullst though, slowed by 7 tenths for yellow flags and got a penalty for it.

Today's failure didn't help either - that would have been a podium.

LeClerc is the real deal, Haas next year I reckon.

7/10ths isnt really backing off...

[Vaud]

What a race. Fully deserved podium group.

As for Vettel/ Hamilton... most of these threads are a whinge fest that we have lost the passion of the 80s and 90s and characters like Senna (who brake tested many... e.g. Monaco 1992 / Irvine at Suzuka).

One minor bump from Vettel and cue thread ranting.

It was bad but the penalty was fitting. And I note Lewis revised his restart technique for the following restart.

[Vaud]

NRS said:

Agree, exciting race.

However there is a clear difference between a bit of character and someone deliberately driving into someone. And not even accepting it was wrong or recognising it even happened. Good luck if you're happy to go racing with characters like that,

Well half the thread seem to prefer the BTCC style so half would be happy...

It wasn't at racing speed.

I'm "meh" to this one and I like both drivers, so no bias.

[Vaud]

VladD said:

jsf said:

Vettel should receive at least 1 race ban, that is not how you promote road safety by allowing road rage in front of millions of viewers to go unpunished.

What did Maldonado get for doing the same a Spa?

And it has been punished.

[Vaud]

Leithen said:

Sorry Derek, but I disagree - as the pic shows, it's the wrong place to still be on the brakes. It's still entirely Vettel's fault for hitting him, but equally the wrong place to slow the field.

I agree. Plenty of other options. He was in the right to slow them there, but as he found it was a risky place.

My guess is the penalty was just for the second incident. The first was nothing in the scheme of things.

[Vaud]

jbudgie said:

"My guess is the penalty was just for the second incident."

That's what the commentators said.

I missed that, thanks... was multitasking

[Vaud]

LDN said:

That is telling and confirms my worst idea of Vettel's character. A shame to be honest.

In this case, it's on the person behind to not go into the person in front... to then drive alongside and drive into the other driver is barking mad.

Arrogance and petulance on another level.

Senna, Schumacher, Prost, Hamilton (at times), Vettel (at times) - all ruthless and arrogant at times in their careers.

[Vaud]

JonChalk said:

Nope; could have been black-flagged.

"The solid black flag is used to summon a driver to the pits. It is usually associated with a penalty imposed on the driver for disobeying the rules, but may also be used when a car is suffering a mechanical failure, leaking fluid,................."

..loose headrest...

[Vaud]

Wills2 said:

Vettel has 9 points on his licence now, so 3 more and race ban.

Some expire just before the British GP

[Vaud]

Jonnny said:

Did Stroll actually overtake anyone?

Don't think so.

Good race for him.

Not sure who my "driver of the day is"... the top 3 seem equally deserving.

[Vaud]

lee_fr200 said:

Gotta be ricciardo that stunning overtake was marvellous

It was, but so was the fightback from Bottas. And Stroll's calmness as an 18 year old, in a race where everyone seemed to lose their cool.