The F1 circuit architect (above) has been responsible for designing the majority of Formula 1’s ‘new’ circuits, including the likes of the Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi), Marina Bay Street Circuit (Singapore), Bahrain International Circuit and Circuit of The Americas (Austin).

Most recently, he’s tackled downtown Baku circuit (Azerbaijan) as the city prepares for racing this summer.

What was your first thought when you heard of the opportunity to build a street circuit in Baku? I had no idea about the city. After my first visit to Baku I was left with just one thought: Amazing! From the very first moment, I was really proud to be a part of the project and the team here. Baku will be the world’s fastest city circuit and the track loop around the city’s historical centre will create a unique and remarkable atmosphere for fans watching in the grandstands and at home. The City Circuit of Baku is located in a vibrant city. The streets are really narrow and this is exactly what makes it so appealing.

What was the most challenging part of the construction process? Coming up with an idea for the routing of a city track suitable for F1. City circuits are always challenging to build because the team has to construct the racetrack within the city. Various problems arise when designing a circuit in the city.

What is the average lap time expected to be? We calculated a lap time of 101 seconds, but that depends on the individual set-up of the racing cars and on the developments of this year’s new cars. The brake point in front of Turn 8 is V max= 204km/h. Between T8 and T9 we expect a V min of 86 km/h. The layout of the track is designed to show off the beauty of the historic and modern views and sights of Baku.

You can also race the virtual circuit.