Formula One championship rivals Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso will have to cope with a “difficult” track when the Circuit of Americas makes its Formula One debut in Austin, Texas this weekend, the circuit's German architect told dpa.
“It is one of the difficult circuits,” Hermann Tilke said in an interview.
“That is, of course, relative because Formula One drivers are professionals and learn very quickly... But it is easy to make mistakes and difficult to set the car up to suit the whole of the circuit.”
SOMETHING SPECIAL
The Aachen-based architect, who has designed numerous Formula One racing circuits, said he and his team tried to create “something special” with the 5.516-kilometre Austin track which has an elevation change of 41 metres.
“We have made use of every hill, it goes continually uphill and downhill, which is something that characterizes this circuit,” Tilke said.
“There are fast corner combinations which go over these hills. That makes it especially interesting.”
Red Bull's Vettel could seal his third successive F1 title in Sunday's penultimate race of the season.
The 25-year-old German has a 10-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and needs to gain at least 15 points more than his Spanish rival on Sunday to capture the 2012 title ahead of the final race, in Brazil the following week.
“That is great for us as well,” Tilke said. “Of course, it is nice when not only the race is exciting but the world championship. Before a debut like this you are always excited, (hoping) that everything functions.” -Sapa-dpa