Baku is the primary F1 dash occasion to be held on a road circuit, and the probabilities of accidents occurring have been ramped up by the choice to make the dash a standalone occasion.
That’s being finished largely to encourage drivers to take extra dangers and produce a greater present on Saturday as a result of there shall be no impression on their grid positions for Sunday’s fundamental occasion.
As an additional problem, the Miami GP takes place the next weekend, which signifies that groups should sort out three road races in 9 days, with restricted time to get new components to Florida if they’re required.
“I’m nervous a couple of dash in Baku since you simply haven’t sufficient time to restore if in case you have main harm,” stated Aston Martin staff principal Mike Krack when requested by Autosport.com concerning the dangers.
“As a result of straight after the dash you’ve got the covers on, and within the morning you’ve got solely three, 4 hours to restore your automotive if it’s closely broken.
“So there’s a excessive danger with that train, however Baku it’s not so tough to overhaul. When you take excessive danger within the corners then there may be excessive danger clearly, however I believe will probably be present.”
McLaren staff head Andrea Stella admitted that harm is a priority.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, walks away from his automotive after hitting the wall
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“Sure, we’re nervous,” stated the Italian. “On the similar time, we’re supportive of accelerating the spectacle by way of the dash races. One way or the other, we’ve got to adapt. There’s additionally conversations open with the FIA and F1.
“So it is a collaborative course of. Finally, we’ll have to search out the optimum level for the spectacle and in addition for groups to handle components and to handle the prices in the price cap.”
Within the context of the price cap groups are having to make a high quality judgement between having sufficient spare components to get by way of the road circuit weekends whereas not making too many examples of a specification which will quickly be outmoded as they proceed to develop their vehicles.
“It is all the time in your thoughts with funds cap,” stated AlphaTauri technical director Jody Egginton. “The very last thing you need is bits sitting on the shelf that you have not run since you’ve obsoleted them and moved on with out getting any profit from them. So yeah, there’s a danger.
“It is like again within the day in Monaco, you all the time wished to ensure you had sufficient stuff since you have been by no means positive what may occur. It is danger and reward.
“We’ll take the method we usually take and see the place we’re. However you’ll be able to’t afford, particularly once you’ve received a really robust improvement programme, to be making an extra of components.
“With our ground programme we’ve got to handle it very rigorously, as a result of the ground improvement is deliberate to be robust, so you don’t need inventory mendacity round that you do not want.
“However on the similar time, for those who get a miss hit with one of many updates, you need to ensure you can roll again and have sufficient inventory.”