Although F1 has generally given the thumbs up to the latest addition to the F1 calendar, a number of drivers remain critical, particularly regarding the pit entry which is on the entry to a blind corner.

"It's very dangerous. It is a big issue," said Jarno Trulli. The Italian was also critical of the pitlane exit and the first corner. "They don't ask us anything about circuit layout, nothing.

"I had problems because I was twice stuck in gear," he continued. "While I was fine to make it back I was so slow that I had to look after myself when I was getting in. In this longer, blind right-hand corner I had to stay right on the racing line and I was so slow that I was wondering if someone might hit me in the back. This is a big issue in my opinion. There is no other option, it is right on the racing line, and the racing line is right on the far right-hand side facing the wall."

Another driver voicing his concern was Renault's Robert Kubica. "If someone is pitting, you have to take a tighter line then it might be a bit dangerous if you are really close," said the Pole. "It might be quite tight."

The FIA's Safety Delegate Charlie Whiting has requested that changes be made to Turn 16 where a number of cars were 'bottoming out' over the course of the two sessions. Also, the wall at that corner is to be re-profiled so that it runs parallel to the track. Other modifications include a new apex kerb at Turn 18 and tweaks to the pitlane entry.

Despite the drivers' concerns, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone defended the track. "The whole world said it wasn't going to happen," he told BBC 5 Live, "I went out on a limb and said it would because I knew they would finish it properly which is what they have done.

"People are too quick to criticise," he continued, "yet there are so many other places we have been and they haven't criticised. I mean it rained continuously for 51 days, so that put them 51 days back but they have worked through that and they have managed to catch up."

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