Vietnam circuit will provide 'plenty of overtaking options'

  • Published on 03 May 2019 15:22
  • comments 7
  • By: Fergal Walsh

The circuit that will host the maiden Vietnam Grand Prix next year will offer a wide range of opportunities to overtake, according to managing director of Tilke, Carsten Tilke. 

Two-thirds of the track is being built through the streets of Hanoi, while the remaining section is being built from scratch.

The design of the circuit has been done in a way that allows cars to overtake, rather than just follow each other, which is often seen at Monaco - F1's most famous street race.

"There was a close co-operation with the team at Formula 1 and the organisers at Hanoi to design the circuit," Tilke told F1 Racing.

"They had a lot of input and we had many discussions about how we could create a good circuit, not only from a driving perspective but to offer a lot of overtaking too.

"Of course, we are fixed to some given streets – which are basically the straights – but through simulation tools we have been able to create the best track possible."

The Vietnam race is set to be held in April, with the official calendar to be signed off later this year.

Finding an efficient set up will be 'difficult'

Tilke added that he believes the circuit will provide a headache for teams to figure out the right set up due to the nature of the track. 

"The whole track has a nice combination of fast corners and long straights, so it will be difficult to find a good set-up for the teams," he said.

"Our simulations have shown it will offer good racing and plenty of overtaking options. It will be difficult to get a good lap time as it will be very easy to make a mistake – so hopefully the drivers will like the challenge."

Construction set to start in Hanoi

Planning for the event is in the latter stages, and TIlke says that they will soon start the construction of the circuit and the paddock for it to be ready by the start of the 2020 season.

"The design and planning process is quite far down the line," said Tilke. "Almost everything is ready, but the construction has only just started.

"The ground-breaking ceremony was in late March and now we have to get a lot of machinery on site to get the process to build the venue underway.

"Although the calendar for 2020 hasn't been established yet, we have been given until the start of next season for Hanoi to be ready."

RogerF1

Posts: 501

Nope, sorry guys not a fan of circuits where pretty much the overtaking is who’s got the most power (your note Calle) and with standard brakes on the horizon it comes down to who can get down the runwayS the quickest, not particularly who can be outbraked. In any other motor sport this would be... [Read more]

  • 1
  • May 3 2019 - 23:06

Replies (7)

Login to reply
  • Looks like a good one. Much rather go there than Malaysia.

    • + 0
    • May 3 2019 - 17:37
    • I wouldn't. since Malaysia tend to provide pretty good races, but it doesn't look half bad. Lord Jesus this track will benefit high power teams though.

      • + 0
      • May 3 2019 - 20:10
    • Having traveled to both I would prefer Vietnam any day. And the heat, Malaysia can be brutal. I kinda like these urban dragstrip tracks. Baku is a big success in my mind.

      • + 0
      • May 3 2019 - 20:58
  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    Nope, sorry guys not a fan of circuits where pretty much the overtaking is who’s got the most power (your note Calle) and with standard brakes on the horizon it comes down to who can get down the runwayS the quickest, not particularly who can be outbraked. In any other motor sport this would be boring EXCEPT drag racing which is exactly not what F1 is supposed to be about. Where has agility gone? Killed by gross over aero, tyre deg providing more marbles than a child’s ball pen and a MASSIVE budget spread. There are fundamental problem with F1 if this is what it takes to provide overtaking. Hey ho, lets redesign Silverstone back to the aerodrome it used to be, take twisty bits out and retarmac the old runways - sorted. This Vietnam design is not the answer, sort the cars out and level the playing field so we don’t have a vehicle manufacturers marketing toy

    • + 1
    • May 3 2019 - 23:06
    • I would agree, however since this looks to be the closest to a proper track we might get in the coming future, we might have to settle for it. This to me isn't really about infatuation, it's about "well, okay, it'll do for now".

      • + 0
      • May 4 2019 - 08:48
    • It's about the spectacle. Racing purists will no doubt be disappointed with F1 in a the future.

      • + 0
      • May 4 2019 - 19:18
    • Mmm, you say that, yet I don't necessarily agree. Remember, older gens used to say that about present F1, yet I think 2017 was a great year, and 2018 was awesome. Things need to be amended, for sure, but the spectacle can be found here, and I still think purists like us have something of value to find here. They just need to tweak the right things, starting with increasing the allocations and making the ticket prices less luxurious.

      • + 0
      • May 4 2019 - 20:42

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:05

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:05

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar