615 replies to this topic

[Anja]

It's the race that everyone used to like until it suffered from oversaturation. That can only mean it's time for the Bahrain Grand Prix, round 4 of this year's championship. 

 

Sakhir is a good circuit but let's be honest, the sheer amount of F1 running it saw in recent years takes some of the shine away. At least this year it's not the first race of the season directly after testing at the same venue so that should help a bit. It also has an easy job coming after the almost universally disliked race at Suzuka - can't be worse than that, right?

 

Schedule in track time, which is UTC+3:

 

 

Tyre and circuit info:

 

 

 

A slight break from the routine is a healthy group of rookies in FP1 for this race. With the mandated rookie practice runs increased to two per car this year, I suppose it makes sense even so early in the season since the teams must have tons of data for the track and as junior series frequent it as well, even a driver on F2 level must know it like the back of their hand. We already have 6 young drivers confirmed - I suppose it's still not too late for more announcements, but so far we know these drivers will appear on track:

 

- Ayumu Iwasa (Red Bull / replacing Verstappen)

- Frederik Vesti (Mercedes / replacing Russell)

- Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin / replacing Alonso)

- Luke Browning (Williams / replacing Sainz)

- Dino Beganovic (Ferrari / replacing Leclerc)

- Ryo Hirakawa (Haas / replacing Bearman)

 

Speaking of young drivers, as usual this weekend will feature both F3 and F2 for a pretty packed race weekend. Their respective timetables below, also in track time.

 

 

Edited by Anja, 09 April 2025 - 11:49.

[Yoshi]

Good to see some rookies on track.  
Pirelli's bringing their hardest tyres to Bahrain — I'm expecting a one-stop race.

[PitViperRacing]

Hoping this will be like Bahrain 2014. Best outcome I reckon.

Edited by PitViperRacing, 09 April 2025 - 11:53.

[Goron3]

Good to see some rookies on track.
Pirelli's bringing their hardest tyres to Bahrain — I'm expecting a one-stop race.

Should be a two stop. The circuit hasn't been resurfaced, unlike China and Japan. Very abrasive and track temperature should be much higher than last year, especially at the beginning of the track, due to being held later and with longer days.

The Hards were good for about 20 laps last year.

[SophieB]

Fun things that have happened here:
 
Rosberg v Hamilton:
 



 
 
Also this:
 

[Otaku]

So many rumours surrounding Doohan and Colapinto... in the end I don't think anything will happen, at least this weekend.

[jonpollak]

Sand can’t catch fire … right?

Jp

[Ruusperi]

Last year the race was just dreadful and for a while it seemed Verstappen and Red Bull would dominate the season. How wrong we were in the end.

This year I'm hoping for tighter battle.

[SophieB]

Sand can’t catch fire … right?

Jp

I am not exactly sure of this but I think this is how we get glass.

[SenorSjon]

So many rumours surrounding Doohan and Colapinto... in the end I don't think anything will happen, at least this weekend.

 

Depends on how Doohan tests settings in the sim vs real life.

[Stephane]

The change was supposed to happen after 5gps

[lewislorenzo]

Should be a Mclaren breeze

[JeePee]

Should be a Mclaren breeze

Just like Suzuka.

[engineblock1]

I am expecting a Ferrari win here should McL mess it up.

[LolaB0860]

The race, while not great, was at least visually different from anything else in the calendar when it was a daylight race. You could tell where they are. Now it's exactly the same as all the rest, bland and grey. And I don't think the action is particularly spectacular, it's mostly just overpowered DRS on the straights again. Some years have been decent, but you could say that of any event, even Valencia. Anyway, it's still better the rest of ME. Less disgusting than Qatar and SA, less fake than Abu Dhabi. Also not being the opening race this year makes it less annoying. So 6/10 or whatever

Edited by LolaB0860, 09 April 2025 - 14:33.

[STIGG]

I am not exactly sure of this but I think this is how we get glass.

 

Adami: Lewis, caution turn 4. The glass is slippy. Doohan just slid off. 

Hamilton: Grass? Mate, we're in the desert. What are you talking about? 

Adami: We are checking.

 

15 minutes later...

Adami: Yes, it's a glass. It's like a slippy glass.

Hamilton: This guy... 

Edited by STIGG, 09 April 2025 - 14:36.

[lewislorenzo]

Just like Suzuka.

Overtaking is much easier here

[PayasYouRace]

I’ve never really liked this circuit as a circuit (Outer Layout excepted) but I can think of a few good races here.

Was it 2014 that saw the Hamilton-Rosberg battle?

2022 was good fun, with Leclerc and Verstappen. 2021 was tense in a way the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday wasn’t.

And of course I say it every year, but they should use the Outer Layout. That one Sakhir Grand Prix was fantastic anyway, but the layout provides something different to any other circuit on the calendar. It also includes the best corner on the circuit, the sweeping right into the chicane on the outer loop link section.

[vlado]

No way VER can pull another miracle so MCL 39 should park walk this 

 

NOR > PIA on this track is my guess 

[Mc_Silver]

No way VER can pull another miracle so MCL 39 should park walk this

NOR > PIA on this track is my guess

Verstappen was almost a second quicker than everyone last year. This is one of their strong tracks just like Suzuka. McLaren has never won here and been competitive here as well. I think it could be the closest race of the season so far.

Edited by Mc_Silver, 09 April 2025 - 16:35.

[1player]

Verstappen was almost a second quicker than everyone last year. This is one of their strong tracks just like Suzuka. McLaren has never won here and been competitive here as well. I think it could be the closest race of the season so far.

I'm not sure past performance is indicative of future results. McLaren were supposed to have a hard time in Australia, and without the rain they would have won with 30 seconds. It seems the characteristics of this season's car are different than previous years, and might perform well at tracks that supposedly the car was bad at.

Edited by 1player, 09 April 2025 - 16:43.

[Ali623]

Verstappen was almost a second quicker than everyone last year. This is one of their strong tracks just like Suzuka. McLaren has never won here and been competitive here as well. I think it could be the closest race of the season so far.

 

Isn't that largely because over the past several years it's been the opening race of the season, where McLaren have just generally started slow and Red Bull have started the last few years dominantly.

[RedRabbit]

Isn't that largely because over the past several years it's been the opening race of the season, where McLaren have just generally started slow and Red Bull have started the last few years dominantly.

2023 and 2024 were dominant, but that's it.

It's a very strong track for Charles, so I see him as the dark horse this weekend if Ferrari can find a legal set up.

[rodlamas]

In 11 races in Bahrain, Verstappen has retired 5 times. He has won the last 2 races in a dominant fashion but we know why.

 

Curious thing is that last year Red Bull could use two soft tires in the race. I wonder what they will do this time.

[AlexPrime]

I think Piastri might win this weekend 

[Hellenic tifosi]

All race simulations during testing were two-stoppers. Given the abrasive track and the ease of overtaking, I doubt we 'll see anyone trying to go for the one stopper.

[jonpollak]

Over 20 years ago we discovered this venue....

 

A little Autosport Forums history for y'all.

 

Jp

[Celloman]

Bahrain is one of the best tracks for overtaking from the ones that have been on the calendar longer. Maybe during the weak Pirelli tire era we saw a bit too many easy DRS overtakes around here, but now it's the opposite again with overtaking getting more difficult. Some nice battles running alongside into turn one and you can go on and re-overtake into turn two. Also a challenging braking into turn 10 that leads into another DRS straight, which ideally would be a bit longer.

[TomNokoe]

I was really surprised in Japan just how close Hadjar and Albon were to front running pace. I wonder if they can get even closer this weekend, especially Williams, or will the crazy rear deg string out the field? Also think Gasly and Alpine are due a good performance. I was reading about how their energy recovery system struggled in Japan because there's not enough braking zones, so they should fare better, and looked great here in testing.

 

Very, very important weekend for Ferrari, and Lewis. Of all the tracks so far, he should be most comfortable here.

[STIGG]

Over 20 years ago we discovered this venue....

A little Autosport Forums history for y'all.

Jp

Nice. I remember reading in the black hardback season review about them shipping in stone from a quarry in the UK. I've got Wales in my head but could be wrong. It was a crazy number like 5 or 10... thousand or million. Ok, I don't remember how much or from where exactly, but they shipped some stone!

[Hellenic tifosi]

There are two things that I like about Bahrain:

1) The design of the first corner and the two DRS zones with different detection points. This is exactly how tight chicanes should be designed, combined with a carefully chosen second DRS zone. Even though overtaking is easy, this design gives the driver being overtaken a good chance of getting the position back.

2) The tightening left hander before the back straight. It's tricky and difficult to get right, with frequent lockups.

Edited by Hellenic tifosi, 09 April 2025 - 21:44.

[Nemo1965]

There are two things that I like about Bahrain:

1) The design of the first corner and the two DRS zones with different detection points. This is exactly how tight chicanes should be designed, combined with a carefully chosen second DRS zone. Even though overtaking is easy, this design gives the driver being overtaken a good chance of getting the position back.

2) The tightening left hander before the back straight. It's tricky and difficult to get right, with frequent lockups.

2. Really? My guess would be the 5, 6, 7 s-combo. There is a raise there where you have to make a quick direction change, and an apex of the second turn in you can’t see at the first. 12 and 13 (the two before the back straight) are visually much easier, IMHO. 12 is flat-out, then there’s a perfect straight curb and track to get the braking right for 13.

But I haven’t watched the tests in Bahrain, so you could be right.

[The Passenger]

Was it 2014 that saw the Hamilton-Rosberg battle?

Yes, SophieB mentioned that, and posted this:

https://youtu.be/C_GWdS5RP0Q

[Boxerevo]

I hope it will be a classic.

[noikeee]

2. Really? My guess would be the 5, 6, 7 s-combo. There is a raise there where you have to make a quick direction change, and an apex of the second turn in you can’t see at the first. 12 and 13 (the two before the back straight) are visually much easier, IMHO. 12 is flat-out, then there’s a perfect straight curb and track to get the braking right for 13.

But I haven’t watched the tests in Bahrain, so you could be right.

He's talking about the other back straight. Turns 9 and 10.

[Nemo1965]

He's talking about the other back straight. Turns 9 and 10.

Oooh… yes. That is a punishment for greedy drivers.

[mclara]

I am expecting a Ferrari win here should McL mess it up.

 

Based on what?

 

Unless they fix their issues their low fuel pace will probably not be good enough to fight for a win

[Hellenic tifosi]

Oooh… yes. That is a punishment for greedy drivers.

That's why I chose it as one of my favorites among slow corners.

[Claudius]

Nice. I remember reading in the black hardback season review about them shipping in stone from a quarry in the UK. I've got Wales in my head but could be wrong. It was a crazy number like 5 or 10... thousand or million. Ok, I don't remember how much or from where exactly, but they shipped some stone!

 

Very clear and concise, thx for the info! 

[Amz964]

Probably silly question is there a reason that Bahrain has never been resurfaced since it's first race in 2004 obviously not down to lack of money but just interesting to see as most older tracks (crazy to think Bahrain is kind of one now) have had resurfacing over the years.

Edited by Amz964, 10 April 2025 - 14:48.

[Stephane]

Turn 4 changed so the tarmac there may be a little younger

[MJB5990]

T1 to T4 has become one of the funnest sections to race on across the whole season, hopefully it can give us some action and stop it becoming another qualy race. 

[PayasYouRace]

Don’t know how much usage the track gets, but I’d imagine there’s not a lot of massive temperature variation throughout the year in that climate.

[vlado]

[vlado]

It's a very strong track for Charles, so I see him as the dark horse this weekend if Ferrari can find a legal set up.

 

ah yes we have an idea what happens if the car is good 

 

 

but I doubt the SF25 will be anywhere near that level of competitiveness 

[Hellenic tifosi]

T1 to T4 has become one of the funnest sections to race on across the whole season, hopefully it can give us some action and stop it becoming another qualy race.

That's a combination of good track design and clever DRS zone spacing. Shame that there is no proper deterrent for T4 track limits.

[Otaku]

ah yes we have an idea what happens if the car is good 

 

 

but I doubt the SF25 will be anywhere near that level of competitiveness 

 

 

Those fake cheers...

[JimmyClark]

Don’t know how much usage the track gets, but I’d imagine there’s not a lot of massive temperature variation throughout the year in that climate.

If anything, deserts are some of the most extreme for temperature variations as the days are very hot and the nights can get cold, then on top of that there's the sand. It is one of the prime envrionments for weathering and erosion (although Bahrain being an island might help as humidity is higher, which keeps some temperature in the air at night). But I'm glad they keep the surface as it is - tracks need character, not to all be billiard table smooth and low wearing...

As for races in Bahrain, I don't think its suited this current rules set at all - 2022, 2023 and 2024 were all forgettable really (the failing Bulls in 2022 apart). Maybe it's due to overfamiliarity from all the testing (like Barcelona used to suffer). So I don't expect this weekend to be that interesting.

Edited by JimmyClark, 10 April 2025 - 20:11.

[d246]

Nice. I remember reading in the black hardback season review about them shipping in stone from a quarry in the UK. I've got Wales in my head but could be wrong. It was a crazy number like 5 or 10... thousand or million. Ok, I don't remember how much or from where exactly, but they shipped some stone!

It was from a quarry in Shropshire, Uk from memory. The same aggragate was used in Abu Dhabi. I remember DC and MB discussing it. 

[Goron3]

Those fake cheers...

Still find it hilarious people claim it fake. That's literally how it sounds in t he grandstands.

Moving microphones closer to the fans was a great decision imo.