Gasly, pilot in the wind but cautious in the face of Baku's squalls

On the banks of the Black Sea and between the historic buildings where the urban circuit of Baku winds, the wind has a blast. He was also faithful to the appointment this Thursday during the traditional media day and should make a lively return on Sunday for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. 

Crossed in the well-ventilated paddock of Baku, Pierre Gasly explained to us the particularities of piloting in high winds. 

« It's going to be tricky for everyone because it makes the cars super difficult to control, said the runner Alpha Tauri. Already walking around the track, we realize that it is blowing really hard in certain places, especially between the buildings. I'm thinking of the section between turns 3 and 4 or at the exit of 13. 

This was already the case two years ago. There are corridors where you have to be careful. If you arrive with 15 km/h more on first braking, that makes a big difference. 

With the aerodynamic load we have, it's incredible. This can benefit us or cause us to lose a lot. Although you may take cues in terms of balance and braking point, these can change completely in the space of a lap depending on the presence or absence of a gust. ». 

After his good performance in the Principality (6th), Gasly hopes to continue the same dynamic in a race which can hold somewhat crazy scenarios as the 2017 and 2018 editions demonstrated. 

« The approach is the same as usual but we know that the reward can be higher, admitted the Norman. Here, the race is much more important than qualifying because you can really overtake. Well, it's always better to start from the front, but the state of mind is different from that in force in Monaco ». 

To do this we will have to see if the Honda engine breathes as well as its counterpart. Mercedes, the designated reference, on the endless boulevards of Baku open to the four winds.