India: The Pilots’ Perspective

In 2011, the Buddh International Circuit in India generated almost unanimous enthusiasm among the drivers, so much so that most of them happily return for the second edition of the Indian Grand Prix: « It’s the second time we’re racing in India, and I’m excited to be there. Last year, I think we were all impressed by what they did with the circuit: it’s really good, an interesting mix of elevations and different types of corners, not like what we’ve seen in many of the recent tracks, so it’s a circuit we all enjoy, » says Heikki Kovalainen.

At Red Bull, Mark Webber thinks it’s a nice track to drive on, especially since the atmosphere and public support were strong last season: The track is similar to Korea with mainly straight lines in the first sector followed by two sectors that demand a lot from us, so we have to find the right balance between downforce and top speed. Sebastian Vettel, for his part, points out that with an average speed of 235 km/h, the race is the second fastest of the year behind Monza: There is a lot of elevation during the lap, which adds to the fun, […] it’s like a roller coaster. It has really established itself as one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar for the drivers.

Moreover, Lewis Hamilton does not hesitate to make the comparison with Spa-Francorchamps: « The circuit is quite a revelation. With the most recent circuits, we always feel that the same driving style suits them, but with the Buddh circuit, it’s different: it has more in common with a circuit like Spa than it does with most of the circuits we frequent. And this is because it is incredibly smooth: in fact, from turn #4, which is a large-angled, banked corner, the circuit is made up of a series of fast and varied turns that really allow you to push the car to the limit. » A newcomer to the circuit located near Greater Noida, Charles Pic comes to the same conclusion as the McLaren driver: « It is definitely one of the few races I am particularly eager to discover. The circuit is very interesting with some notable features, and it seemed to be widely praised in 2011. I’ve done a lot of work in the simulator to prepare for it, and I can see the parallel with Spa: it seems very fast and smooth. »

Among the standout features of the circuit, Jenson Button notes the approach to turns 3 and 4, which are incredibly wide – almost like a highway – to encourage different lines at the turn entrance and promote overtaking. He also highlights the sequence of turns 10 and 11, a huge double-apex curve that the Briton doesn’t hesitate to compare to the double left of Spoon at Suzuka: It’s quite unusual for a new circuit to have so many fast turns, and it’s very enjoyable when you can really exploit the car there – the lateral Gs, it’s an amazing sensation.

Pastor Maldonado also appreciates the diversity offered by the Buddh circuit: « India is pleasant because it’s so different and the track is one of my favorites. It’s still a recent circuit but it has a good combination of medium and high-speed corners, chicanes, and good direction changes. »

For Timo Glock, the Indian circuit is simply fantastic: “I appreciated it as soon as we did our first test laps on the circuit last year. There are so many special sections on the track, especially turn 3, which is very extreme. You have to fully turn the steering wheel before starting a very long straight. However, with the long straights, KERS will play an important role again,” judges the German, whose Marussia MR-01 lacks the kinetic energy recovery system.

At Caterham, according to Vitaly Petrov, the Buddh circuit is simply one of the best: « It is rather harmonious, beautiful, and wide, so you can take different lines in certain corners. It offers some very good turns like the double left of turns 5 and 6 where you enter quickly before braking for the chicane. The track surface is in itself similar to that of South Korea. It will evolve significantly over the weekend and we will see the times drop as the level of grip improves, but, as all year, tire management will be really important. » Paul di Resta joins the Russian driver: « It’s one of those new Hermann Tilke tracks, with a good mix of corners, plenty of runoff areas, and some places where overtaking is possible. We discovered last year that grip came quite quickly and that the track was quite exciting to drive. I remember that tire wear was quite significant last year and I had to stop three times during the race, so understanding the tires is the priority on Friday. » Moreover, for Pedro de la Rosa, « it will be interesting to see how the asphalt has evolved from one year to the next because last year the circuit was completely new and quite dirty. »

But beyond Formula 1, the trip to the Indian subcontinent represents quite an adventure in itself, even though Sergio Pérez acknowledges that, like in 2011, he will probably not have time to visit the region. While Bruno Senna emphasizes that it is a unique place to visit, Michael Schumacher reflects on the early days of the Grand Prix in 2011: “It was certainly a success. There were an astounding number of fans over the weekend […]. As drivers, we received a very enthusiastic welcome, and it will be interesting to see if this enthusiasm endures.”

For his part, Lewis Hamilton returns to India with joy: “I love India, the people, the colors, the noise, the spectacle, the chaos. It’s an intense and vibrant country with some of the most enthusiastic and friendly people we encounter during the season.” A similar sentiment is shared by Nico Rosberg, who confides that he was “truly impressed by the passion and friendliness of the Indians” and that he was eager to return “to experience more exciting adventures.” Among these, gastronomy is at the forefront for the drivers: “I have never visited India, but I have greatly enjoyed Indian restaurants in most of the countries where I have been,” says Kimi Räikkönen. Giedo van der Garde, who took the wheel of the Caterham CT01 during Free Practice 1, is also delighted to discover India: “I am a big fan of spicy food, so I will have the opportunity to experience something completely new both on and off the track.” For Kamui Kobayashi, chicken Makkhani will likely be on one of his menus as it is one of his homemade dishes: “Maybe this year I will manage to visit the city of New Delhi, but it’s quite far from the circuit and it’s so big.”

But naturally, the final word goes to the local of the stage, Narain Karthikeyan: « Obviously, it is the race I look forward to the most, and there is already a lot of buzz around the event. The layout of the Buddh International Circuit is a great mix that makes it tough on the tires since there are very few simple turns. But since the track is not at all abrasive, the tire wear shouldn’t be an issue. I have great memories from last year’s Grand Prix where I had a fantastic weekend […]. I hope it goes even better this year and that I can dedicate my race to the fans who show me so much support. »