Friday 10 February 2012

GPUpdate

Round 1: Bahrain

10 March 2010

This weekend sees Bahrain host the opening round of the Formula One World Championship for the second time, having first done so when Fernando Alonso's Renault edged ahead of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari to win in 2006. This year, the Spaniard is driving for the German's former team as the 7-time World Champion makes his racing comeback with Mercedes-Benz.

With Alonso and Felipe Massa making an all-Latin line-up at Ferrari, reigning Champion team Brawn becoming Mercedes and boasting an all-German attack of Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, McLaren housing the two most recent British World Champions and Red Bull being the only one of the 'big four' to maintain its 2009 driver combination, there is much to talk about this weekend.

The extended section of race track for this weekend's race
The extended section of race track for this weekend's race

Bahrain first made an appearance on the F1 calendar in 2004, with Schumacher easily leading home a Ferrari 1-2 as brother Ralf found himself in high-flying trouble with Takuma Sato. Alonso was the man to beat in the desert for the next two years before Massa enjoyed his own double Sakhir successes in 2007 and 2008. Last season, Jenson Button reigned supreme to overhaul Hamilton and both Toyotas for the win after the Japanese team locked out an F1 front row for the only time.

As if there wasn't already enough new elements to discuss, the field will be forced to learn immediately this season as, like at Silverstone, there is a new section of track at Sakhir; unfortunately, what used to be the spectacular fast sweepers of Turns 5, 6 and 7 will now be substituted for a left-hander leading into a sequence of relatively tight new bends before rejoining the original Grand Prix circuit at the double-apexed Turn 13 on what now becomes a 23-turn race track. As a result, the lap count decreased from 57 to 49 for the 2010 event sponsored by Gulf Air.

Until last year, Felipe Massa was regarded as the King of Bahrain
Until last year, Felipe Massa was regarded as the King of Bahrain

Other notable things to look out for are the new top ten scoring system which - coupled with the usual first race unreliability - could see some unfamiliar names in the points, ultra-quick pit-stops in the region of three seconds and under - due to the ban on refuelling - and narrower front tyres, which could cause understeer in faster corners.

That said, the entire circuit will change in terms of feel this year as cars must be set up in order to accommodate for the higher downforce levels of the new section. This weekend's race will also be the first in which we see the top ten qualifiers start a Grand Prix on the same tyres with which they finished Saturday, with those from 11th place downwards able to enjoy fresh rubber from the moment the red lights go out.

Jenson Button celebrated victory for Brawn GP last year
Jenson Button celebrated victory for Brawn GP last year

The weather will not be an issue, with baking sunshine and temperatures in the mid to late 30s expected; the only possible problem, which has only once affected F1 in a test session at Sakhir, is sandstorms which cause the track, especially off-line areas, to be dangerously slippery as well as reducing visibility levels.

Circuit changes for 2010:

- New track layout in Sector 1, featuring 8 new corners
- All tyre barriers 6 rows deep fitted with extra conveyor belting
- All kerbs repainted

Bahrain Grand Prix winners at a glance:

2009 Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes
2008 Felipe Massa, Ferrari
2007 Felipe Massa, Ferrari
2006 Fernando Alonso, Renault
2005 Fernando Alonso, Renault
2004 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari

Bahrain pole position winners at a glance:

2009 Jarno Trulli, Toyota
2008 Robert Kubica, BMW
2007 Felipe Massa, Ferrari
2006 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2005 Fernando Alonso, Renault
2004 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari

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