Former Formula 1 driver and BBC pundit Martin Brundle was convinced that the inaugural Indian Grand Prix was successful but added that there were a few concerns that needed to be addressed.
Organisers of the event announced that the attendance for Sunday’s race at the Buddh International Circuit stood at nearly 95,000, which was almost twice the presence on the day before. The F1 fraternity had harboured high expectations, some of which were met.
“I think it was a great success for a first race,” Brundle told F1Pulse.com. “There was a lot of atmosphere, a lot of excitement, more than I have seen for a new race for a long, long time. Even now looking round the paddock, there’s still some energy and vibrancy here.”
However, the 60-lap race did not produce the wheel-to-wheel action as everyone anticipated although the outing had its moments.
“There’ll be some things they’ll change for next year,” he pointed out. “It didn’t turn out to be a classic Grand Prix, probably because it was not as exciting as I thought for a number of reasons. Sometimes it happens like that. Overall I would have thought it’s an absolute resounding success for the first Indian Grand Prix.”
The 5.1km track has a unique layout when compared to the recent additions to the calendar but the Briton suggested that changes are in order.
“I haven’t raced here but I have walked around it and I like watching F1 cars, I like watching the cars here,” he said. “There are a couple of sections that are really exciting. Listening to the drivers, they like it. They like the high-speed direction changes.
“The wide turn in points to the hairpins, didn’t work as well as they should have as the track is too dirty as there has been so much construction here,” he explained.
“They have some jet washes here in Europe. They need to get a couple of those here and make sure the surface is super, super clean. I think that would help the racing.
“I am not being critical. I am just being practical for phase two of the Indian Grand Prix,” he said.
source:F1Pulse.com