Doubts over the ethics of holding a race in Baku aside - it is undoubtedly an attractive street circuit.

Here was BBC commentator Jack Nicholls' view this morning.

You can listen to him and the team on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra right now - or by using the Live Coverage tab.

Image source, Rex Features

So there's a big old tusky elephant in the room in Baku - but that's enough about Bernie Ecclestone.

In all seriousness, questions over Azerbaijan's human rights record have been raised since it was announced Baku would host the European GP.

And Bernie faced questions on the issue this week.

What does he make of reports of journalists being imprisoned for criticising the government?

"So they should... but, it depends what they write..."

So he's taking seriously.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Baku

Before Formula 1 decamped to Baku, much of the attention on the new track was focused on the tight section through the old town and past the old city walls and 12th century Maiden Tower - Turns Eight to 11, as it is known.

Now everyone is here, however, general safety is a bigger talking point. Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg led concerns about the lack of run-off areas at Turns Three, Seven and 15. 

‘It’s fine if no-one hits the barriers there,’ Button said, ‘but if you have a failure it could be very bad.’ The issue at all is that there is a concrete wall directly ahead of drivers as they approach at high-speed. Turn 15 has a run-off but, as Button said, 'you have to turn right to take it.'

Image source, Getty Images

It's been four years since the European GP graced the F1 calendar, with Valencia hosting the last five.

The Nurburgring, Jerez, Donington and Brands Hatch have all had a go too.

Baku will be the location of the European GP for the next 10 years - but where would be the best place to hold a European GP?

Use #bbcf1 and explain why - serious, funny and mischievous answers are welcome.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Baku

What is Baku like? Well, it’s hot, for a start, at this time of year (although there is a bit of cloud today which has cooled things down a bit). And windy. There are some spectacular modern skyscrapers, a medieval old town and a new part of town built within the last century to resemble the classic boulevards of Barcelona or Paris.

It’s a very pleasant place to be on a superficial level. As many will know, there have been criticisms of the government’s record on human rights. But, as with other races with a similar issue, that is overlooked by the sport’s leading figures. As Jenson Button put it when asked whether he looked up anything about new countries on the calendar before visiting them: ‘I think that’s a bit of sore subject. We won’t go there.’

Image source, Rex Features

That's a lot of questions. But I'll give you the main answers here.

We'll have commentary across BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online of all three days of action - and of course there will be a full live text service, complete with fun and frolics.

Here are the times of each session this weekend (BST):

Friday: First practice - 10:00

Friday: Second practice - 14:00

Saturday: Third practice - 11:00

Saturday: Qualifying - 14:00

Sunday: Race - 14:00

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Slap on some headphones and crank it up to 11 - BBC Radio 5 live sports extra are on air with their preview coverage of first practice.

You can listen to it by using the Live Coverage tab on this page.

Image source, Rex Features

So, where do you stand on a European Grand Prix?

Are you in, or out?

It's a funny concept the European GP - especially when you consider more than a third of the calendar is already staged on the continent and are, by default, European GPs.

Azerbaijan is considered to be - and I'm quoting Wikipedia now so forgive me - "situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe".

Which makes this whole thing even more muddled.

But look! There's a castle on the Baku track - ooooohhhhh pretty.