Button, Rosberg concerned by lack of run-off area in Baku

Leading Formula 1 drivers have questioned the safety of this weekend's grand prix venue, suggesting the new Baku circuit lacks run-off in key areas, such as Turns 1, 3 and 15. 

The new street circuit will make its debut this weekend and drivers took the opportunity to familiarise themselves with it during a track walk on Thursday morning.

However both McLaren's Jenson Button and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg expressed some concern over safety.

"We trust in the FIA and they do a fantastic job in keeping us safe. They have improved pretty much every circuit we go to, including Monaco," Button said.

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"It's just that on certain corners here [in Baku], it looks as if there is not a lot of run-off. Hopefully I'm wrong.

"It is fine as long as no-one has a failure, we will go away all happy. We just have to hope that doesn't happen."

Of particular concern is Turn 15 according to Rosberg. It comes at the end of a long straight, punctuated by two flat-out kinks and will see drivers arriving at speeds of around 180mph.

Video: Watch an onboard lap of Baku with Daniel Ricciardo and Jolyon Palmer

"The track is great, the place is great. I have been welcomed very well so I'm sure all in all it will be a great success," said the German.

"But there is a bit of a concern for sure with those run-offs. That's not great. The corner before going down the hill (T15) where you have a wall straight on, turn three, and then the pit entry as well. that is not fantastic."

Fernando Alonso, an ambassador for the circuit, says it's no worse than Monaco in terms of safety, but admitted the drivers would likely discuss the matter in more depth tomorrow.

"There are some corners probably we will talk about," he added. "Some others that we need to go on the car first and see how they feel.

"In terms of safety, the FIA ran many simulations in terms of how to make the run-off safe enough. Some of them are safe enough, some of them maybe they look small but it's always better than Monaco, for example. It cannot be any worse than that."