F1 News
Date: 27/October/2011
Formula One will make history this weekend when the much-anticipated first ever Indian Grand Prix takes place at the Buddh International Circuit, on the outskirts of Delhi.
It's a massively important moment for both F1 and India, as the most glamorous and expensive sport in the world takes centre stage in one of the most important emerging economies.
The finishing touches were being put on the newly constructed 5.14km circuit as the F1 'circus' descended on Thursday and the overall mood is extremely positive - not least due to the challenging layout of the track.
"They've done quite a good job on the circuit," said Adrian Sutil, who drives for the 'home' Force India team. "I went around the circuit this morning and it all looked finished.
"For us it is very special and now since a few years we are doing better and better so India knows about our team here and now I think it is time to introduce Formula One here in India. Great weekend for us, many people watching us, and I look forward to it."
For home star Narain Karthikeyan, who will drive for HRT this weekend, it is a dream come true.
"I did not think in my career that I would be racing F1 in India and here we are just around the corner," he smiled. "The circuit is wide in some places, there are lots of different lines and I'm sure you are going to see lots of overtaking. It is definitely a very challenging circuit, with lots of run off areas and so on, so they have done a very good job, no doubt."
The most eye-catching part of the track layout seems to be the wide hairpins, which drivers' hope will encourage overtaking.
"It is pretty interesting," said Ferrari's Felipe Massa. "All these hairpins with very wide braking points, which you can choose two different lines. I think that is a very interesting for overtaking."
Massa's former team-mate and seven time world champion Michael Schumacher agreed.
"It is a new sort of philosophy for overtaking, making the circuits very wide at corner entry so that if you defend, the other guy choosing the outside line can take a good run at you at the end of the straight [after the corner]," explained the German.
"It offers a good tactical perspective for overtaking, for having a good show, and hopefully help make the Indian fans enjoy Formula One this weekend."
Free practice for the Indian Grand Prix takes place on Friday.
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