New images of Hanoi F1 circuit released with track on schedule

The circuit which will host Formula 1’s first ever Vietnam Grand Prix is on schedule to be completed by the new year.

Hanoi will host F1’s inaugural grand prix in the South East Asian Country on April 5, marking the third round of the 2020 season.

Ahead of the race, Vietnam Grand Prix promoters released new images of the construction progress taking place and provided an update on the timeline of completion.

The Hanoi Street Circuit has been designed in partnership with renowned F1 track architect Hermann Tilke and will be 5.607km in length and consist of 23 corners, some of which have taken inspiration from other circuits on the current calendar.

A 300m long pit building will be constructed along the circuit’s main straight with the design being inspired by Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

The permanent facility is expected to be completed by December 31st, with the majority of the track levelling process predicted to be finalised by the new year.

Drivers are estimated to reach top speeds of 335km/h along the 1.5km back straight which begins at Turn 9 and runs down to Turn 11, with he Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation (VGPC) promising a track which is “designed to deliver spectacular racing”.

The Vietnam Grand Prix acts as the first new race created under Liberty Media’s management of the championship since taking over the commercial rights from CVC Capital Partners in 2017.

It is one of two new events for 2020 alongside the returning Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with the calendar stretching out to 22 races for the first time in the history of F1.