Palmer uses video game to learn Baku

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Jolyon Palmer has taken to using a video game to learn the new Baku City Circuit ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix of Europe.

The track in Azerbaijan is a new addition to the calendar, and as a street circuit is still being finished off ahead of track running starting on Friday. As a result, Renault does not have the circuit on its simulator and Palmer says he has been playing video games to get a first impression of the track layout.

“It’s a brand new track so we don’t have it on the simulator, so I’ve done a few laps on the F1 game!” Palmer said. “So I’ve had a little look in advance! My engineers have done their homework but the first real impression will be made when we’re doing the track walk then getting laps on the Friday to learn the circuit. It’ll be the same for everyone.

“I think it looks a cool track, there’s some high speed sections - especially for a street circuit - and overtaking is a possibility. The crazy middle sector looks difficult with its undulation and the sector looks very tight. Any mistakes on a street circuit tend to mean you’re into the wall, so you have to be alert.”

Despite having to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix due to a water leak, Palmer is happy with the progress being made by Renault even if the results have yet to follow.

“We made a step forward with the car, but some better luck and finishes would be good now. I’m happy with the progress being made for the rest of the season. Okay, I can’t be happy at not finishing in Montréal, but the new engine is a step forward and it’s worth a lot of time. The team are pushing hard, we’re finding stuff on the car and the engine is working well. There’s a little pain now, but I’m sure we’ll be looking better for going through it.”

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.