An uphill hairpin into Turn 1? That's a recipe for disaster on the opening lap. Too many cars fighting for position into too small of an area will result in a ton of accidents and knock a bunch of cars out of the race. I hope they realize what will happen and change the layout.
EDIT: Also, I am not a big fan of the "natural" stands. Just spend some money to put in grand stands. I don't want to sit down on the fucking ground. This isn't a 3rd world country, build me a fucking seat.
I'd be worse if it were downhill. Given the standing start and going uphill, maybe the speeds will not be too high on the start. Nevertheless, I do not think its going to be changed.
I haven't been following this story too closely, as I don't even have Speed and have barely watched any F1 in the last couple years. I didn't know about the natural stands. Are there no grandstands anywhere? If so, is the whole track GA? I can go for the whole track being GA, but a F1 race is not that long. You're not going to be able to walk the track like at an 6-24 hour endurance race. You're going to have to show up early and save your spot all day. Kinda like at Laguna Seca. Many of the European classic courses are mostly GA tickets. That's why you have people coming to the circuit at 6AM.
I like the the course is long and has elevation changes. Most of the courses built in the last decade seem to be flat.
I really want to go to the race. I'll be up for tickets if I'm still living in the US then.