Baku City Circuit boss Arif Rahimov has outlined a "slight change" to the venue's pit lane entry for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Ahead of last year's event, former Mercedes driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg described the lengthy main straight and pit lane entry in Baku as "one of the most scary places I've ever driven an F1 car" . Referencing top speeds of around 350km/h, Rosberg added: "If something breaks and you're in that [pit entry] wall, it's the end, there's no more you." While then Race Director Michael Masi disagreed with Rosberg's comments, some modifications have been made between the 2021 and 2022 races, following a safety-based request from the FIA.
What's changing at the Baku track?
Speaking to select media, including RacingNews365.com , Rahimov outlined how the entry to the pit lane will differ this time out. "We're slightly changing the pit lane entrance," he revealed ahead of the Grand Prix, which will take place from 10-12 June. "There are no changes to the track itself, but we've been requested by the FIA to slightly modify the pit lane entrance, so it's a little bit safer. "We'll see how it goes. I think the drivers don't typically make many mistakes on the entry to the pit lane!" Asked for further clarification, Rahimov said: "It's the [part] that flicks out, and before it, so the shape of it will be slightly adjusted."
What about the rest of the track?
Rahimov added that, aside from the pit lane tweaks, changes to the track will not be made unless drivers provide specific feedback after the initial practice sessions. "With the rest, we will see when the cars hit the ground," continued Rahimov, with all-new F1 machines arriving for the 2022 season. "We will not change any turns as such. But sometimes they (the drivers) come in and they do their practice sessions and they say, 'At that spot, the kerb needs to go'. "Like the turn next to the Old City, the narrowest section, we've been playing with this kerb since day one – we've been adding it and removing it and adding it again. "You can't really know until the cars hit the tarmac."
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