F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Bernie: Drivers unhappy with Baku circuit can 'go home'

Bernie Ecclestone has told any drivers unhappy with the Baku City Circuit can "go home" after complaints on Friday.

Following concerns from Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg about the run-off areas and pit entry in Baku, Lewis Hamilton said many F1 drivers "moan so much" and "want to take the all the character and life out of these tracks".

When asked about Hamilton's comments, Ecclestone replied: "I think he’s right.

"Well if they don’t wanna drive they don’t have to. It’s up to them. This is the circuit, don’t like then go home.

"This is the circuit, which I said it is a ballsy circuit and that’s it, if you don’t like it.

"One of them was complaining about, I think Nico [Rosberg], about the speed into the pitlane. So I said go and have a look and see if he’s got brakes on the car. Because it’s up to them to decide what speeds."

When it was put to Ecclestone the pit lane entry has since been changed following a driver meeting, he said it was always unlikely the circuit would be perfect for its first race.

"Yeah but not [changed] for any particular reason, that isn’t what he was complaining about. This is a prototype race, first race is always is, we will see if we did things right or wrong."

FP3 REPORT: Hamilton's advantage cut to 0.25s as Perez crashes

AS IT HAPPENED: Grand Prix of Europe - FP3

Silbermann says ... Ballrooms and having a ball in Baku

Chris Medland’s 2016 Grand Prix of Europe preview

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

36 mins ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…

40 mins ago

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

10 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

11 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

13 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

14 hours ago