A number of drivers have been unhappy about some of the small run-off areas at the circuit, while there have also been reservations expressed about the high-speed pitlane entry.

This prompted Lewis Hamilton to speak out against his rivals on Friday night and claim they were trying to take the character out of F1.

"One thing is for sure, these drivers they moan so much about so many damn things," said Hamilton.

"It's really bumpy down the main straight, and you can't really see Turn 1 that well, because the car's vibrating, so it's really hard.

"But that's part of racing. But these guys want it to be smooth, smoother than ever, no vibrations, and no bumps, they want to take all the character and life out of these tracks."

Ecclestone has backed Hamilton's criticisms, and said that any driver who is not happy to race in Baku is not being forced to compete.

"I think he is right," said Ecclestone. "If they don't want to drive, they don't have to. It is up to them. This is the circuit and if they don't like it they can go home.

"This is a circuit which I said is a bit of a ballsy circuit. And if you don't like it… one of them was complaining, I think Nico, about the speed into the pitlane.

"So I said to the people, go and have a look and see if he has a brake on the car because it is up to him how quick he is."