JOLYON Palmer took a different approach in preparing for Formula 1’s first visit to Azerbaijan this weekend.

The new street circuit in Baku marks the return of the European Grand Prix after a four-year absence, moving from its old home in Valencia, Spain.

With the track making its debut on the F1 calendar, Palmer was not able to use Enstone-based Renault’s race simulator to learn the track, so the 25-year-old decided to revert to an alternative medium – a video game.

He explained: “It’s a brand new track. We don’t have it on the simulator, so I’ve done a few laps on the F1 game.

“So I’ve had a little look in advance.

“My engineers have done their homework but it will be the same for everyone.”

Palmer added: “I think it looks a cool track. There’s some high speed sections – especially for a street circuit – and overtaking is a possibility.

“The crazy middle sector looks difficult with its undulation and looks very tight.

“Any mistakes on a street circuit tend to mean you’re into the wall, so you have to be alert.”

Renault will be hoping for a change in fortunes after a luckless Canadian Grand Prix last weekend.

With Palmer forced to retire with a water leak on lap 17 and Kevin Magnussen finishing 16th, the latter is targeting an improved showing.

“A strong result would be nice,” said Magnussen.

“The Canadian Grand Prix wasn’t a good one for us so let’s get back to a solid performance.

“We’ve been making progress, even if it might not look like it from the outside, and I’m looking forward to learning a new track.”

However, Grove-based Williams head to Azerbaijan in high spirits after Valtteri Bottas’s third-place finish in Montreal.

The 26-year-old Finnish driver said: “I’ve never been to Azerbaijan, so it should be interesting.

“It’s a bit of an unknown for me.

“The track, from what we have seen, looks nice and very quick.”

His teammate Felipe Massa was forced to retire midway through the race in Canada, but the Brazilian is excited to visit Azerbaijan for the first time.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to discovering a race track which will be in the middle of the town.

“I don’t know yet if it will be more like Monaco, or maybe a mix between Monaco and Singapore. We will wait and see.”

Romain Grosjean, who drives for Banbury-based Haas, echoed his fellow drivers’ thoughts.

The 30-year-old said: “It’s going to be very interesting to go to Baku.

“It’s certainly a circuit that’s very different from anything we’ve been used to.”