Karun Chandhok spots Azerbaijan Grand Prix track change that could create crashes

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The Azerbaijan Grand Prix circuit is unique on the calendar with its very long straights and twisty middle sector requiring a compromised downforce level.

It has been very unpredictable since making its debut in 2016, and the track has a minimal margin for error over the lap.

Turn 8, in particular, has caused carnage over the years. Less than eight metres wide, it has caught some of the best drivers on the grid, including Lewis Hamilton, who touched the wall in 2016.

Karun Chandhok spotted that many of the walls have been altered and changed in colour, which may cause issues for the drivers, when commentating on FP1 for Sky Sports F1.

Karun Chandhok is wary of the walls being a different colour from last year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The Baku City Circuit is in the city centre, which creates a lot of track development over the weekend, as the venue isn’t raced on throughout the year.

Shadows are also an issue at some parts of the day when the sun is low in the sky, which could be compounded by the walls being switched to black at the apexes.

The first practice ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was difficult for some of the grid. Many drivers locked up, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc hit the wall and damaged his car.

READ MORE: George Russell explains why Kevin Magnussen deserved his race ban for the Azerbaijan GP

Chandhok believes that the darker walls around the circuit could be an issue over the weekend on a track with very little room for error.

He said: “Jacques [Villeneuve] and I were going around the track yesterday, and we spotted a lot of the apex walls are black this year, which I don’t think was the case before, which makes the separation between the tyre and the wall.

“When you’re in the cockpit, it’s quite hard. I think we’ve seen so many times drivers, including this man [Lewis Hamilton], touch the inside wall and damage their suspension. I wonder if we’ll see a bit more of that this time around.”

A disrupted first practice ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could create a chaotic race

The opening practice session in Azerbaijan saw multiple drivers hit the wall, causing red flags and costing the grid valuable running.

Franco Colapinto collided with the barrier, ending his session early on his first visit to the Baku City Circuit.

Hamilton and Colapinto’s Williams teammate Alex Albon also ran into the runoff areas after missing apexes but were both able to continue.

There are also changes to the driver line-up for this weekend as Oliver Bearman replaces the banned Kevin Magnussen. Some drivers on the grid think Magnussen’s penalties could have been stricter.

All 10 teams would have gathered less data than was possible in the first practice session which may level the playing field slightly over the weekend.