The track is notable for the fact that drivers are on full throttle for a higher-than-average percentage of the lap due to its long straights, and is usually the scenario in which the open-wheeled F1 cars show the raw speed they are capable of (372 kilometres per hour (231 mph) during the V10 engined formula).

Due to the low aerodynamic profile needed, with its resulting low downforce, the grip is very low; understeer, and the resulting slide can hurt overall speed – and are more serious issues than at other circuits, however, the opposite effect, oversteer, is also present in the second sector, requiring the use of a very distinctive opposite lock technique.