FIA denies Baku pit entry is 'most scary place in F1'

FIA race director Michael Masi refuted a claim made by 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg who believes that Baku's pit entry is "one of the most scary places in F1".

Rosberg made the comment on his YouTube channel during his virtual lap presentation of Baku's street circuit where the German won with Mercedes in 2016.

Rosberg typically runs through a track's corners and offers insight to fans about the specific characteristics of each section and turn. But the 23-time Grand Prix winner made a point of singling out a dangerous aspect of Baku's pit entry.

"I’m going to show you one of the places I always found the most dangerous of the whole year," Rosberg said.

"It was quite scary. You’re arriving down here now at 350 kph, now look what’s on the left [pointing to the pit entry].

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"Imagine something breaks on the car here. You’re at 350 kph. On the left, there’s just a wall, and it’s facing you. If something breaks and you’re in that wall, it’s the end, there’s no more you.

"This is one of the most scary places I’ve ever driven an F1 car in. To go by there just feels ridiculously wrong. But you have to try and blend it out."

Many incidents marred the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, but fortunately none took near Baku's pitlane entry which Masi said conforms with the circuit's FIA Grade 1 requirements.

"No, I disagree with that comment," Masi said. "The pit entry and the entire circuit has been designed, and is homologated by the FIA as a Grade 1 circuit, and fulfils all of the various safety requirements that the FIA has within its regulation requirements. So no, I disagree."

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