F1-Blog

Bahrain Preview

The 2008 Bahrain GP could be the last at the circuit, as it looks likely that the event may swap over to the Yas Island track in Abu Dhabi from next year.

So what do we have to look forward to this weekend?

The drivers will be glad to be at the Bahrain track this weekend while they all still try to get used to their cars now that traction control and engine breaking are gone, this is because the track offers some of the largest run-off areas of any of the modern tracks, previously a criticism by some, as it did not punish mistakes, however the drivers will welcome that this weekend.

Felipe Massa was the dominator here last year, taking pole, fastest lap and the win. After the race the three 2007 title contenders (Hamilton, Raikkonen and Massa) left the race on equal points standings as they went into the European season. It’s also worth remembering that this was Lewis Hamilton’s third straight podium finish in a row, a first for an F1 Rookie.

We could see quite an interesting race this year as well. The three top teams (McLaren, Ferrari and BMW) all look strong going into this race, with the McLaren team partially handicapped by being demoted to the bottom of the pit lane under an FIA decision.

Other teams looking good this race are the Toyota, and with a little luck, the Red Bull cars.

The 3.363 mi (5.412 km) track is not the most challenging of Herman Tilke’s designs, but the dry dust, heat and flowing nature usually add up to an interesting race from the viewers stand point.

This will be Massa’s make or break race, if he cannot keep the car on the track without the aids for three races in a row, then I would think that Ferrari may have some stern words for the young Brazilian. The McLaren cars need to come back strong this race as well, and show that they can challenge on equal terms with the Ferrari’s and put their lack of pace 2 weeks ago behind them.

The Ferrari’s will no doubt be quick again in qualifying, so expect a McLaren/Ferrari split over the first four spots on the grid, I would then expect that both BMW’s and Toyota cars should make it through to the final ten as well, as should the Red Bull cars who are clearly faster when on track than the Renault, but don’t write Fernando off.

After this race the teams come back to Europe, as we head for Barcelona a few weeks later, this is where the teams will no doubt start to show their bigger aero and car developments, and also might be where we see the STR3 (Adrian Newey’s RBR4 copy) from Toro Rosso as it has been spied out testing recently.

Let’s hope we have an interesting Race weekend, and forget all the other mess and scandal that is going on around the sport at the moment.

Google Earth View of Bahrain Circuit

Stats :

Fastest Lap : 1:30.252 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
Pole Time : 1:32.652 – Filipe Massa
Most Wins : 2 by Fernando Alonso

Link to ITV Web Simulcast for the GP and Practice/Qualifying sessions.

Broadcast Times
FRI Practice 1 08:00
FRI Practice 2 12:00
SAT Qualifying 12:00
SUN Race 12:30