This year’s Formula 1 World Championships starts at the Bahrain International Circuit for the second time in 5 years. This circuit was chosen by Bernie Ecclestone to start the season due to it’s favourable time for European fans compared to Australia, and the last time it started the season in 2006 we witnessed a titanic battle between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher, with the Spaniard coming out on top. Once again these two men dominate the headlines going into the season-opener, with Alonso switching to Ferrari, while Schumacher makes his F1 return with Mercedes. However, the debut of 3 new teams and new regulations make this a season waited with anticipation.
Where is the circuit?
It is based in the Manama area of Bahrain, in the centre of the country near the south. However there is little to no life around the circuit, with it being surrounded by desert, meaning that everyone has to travel a bit from the local areas to get here.
What about the track stats?
There has been a change to the track layout this season. Previously, the track was 3.3 miles in length with 15 corners. This year the circuit is 3.91 miles (6.299km) long, and runs clockwise like many of the other circuits in F1. It has a total of 23 corners (13 right, 10 left), with some altitude changes throughout the lap. Lap times should be around the 1min 50secs mark, but with the new layout they could be a bit different.
What type of circuit is it?
It is a medium speed circuit, therefore making it similar to the majority of circuits on the calendar. The circuit’s characteristics are dominated by long straights and tight corners, with 4 long straights leading into hard braking areas. It is a typically characteristic circuit of its designer, renowned F1 architect Herman Tilke.
What about its history?
Bahrain made its F1 debut back in 2004, with the circuit built within 18 months. It has hosted a race every year since, and in its six previous races there has only been 4 different winners from three different teams, and with Michael Schumacher returning to the sport it means that all the previous winners (Schumacher in 2004, Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006, Felipe Massa in 2007 and 2008, and Jenson Button last season) will be racing at the circuit this year
(Jenson Button takes victory in last year's event)
Which corners will challenge the drivers?
On paper there are several challenging corners, but realistically there are only two spots on the circuit which will make the drivers think. The first is Turns 17 and 18, which are in reality one corner. As the drivers arrive at Turn 17 they are flat out, before in mid-corner they have to begin braking for Turn 18. This makes it tricky for the drivers as they are braking, turning and downshifting all at the same time, making the back end of the car go light. The drivers then turn into Turn 18, and often miss the apex due to the speed being carried through the corner.
The second real challenge on the lap comes soon after at the fast chicane at Turns 20 and 21. As the drivers exit Turn 19, they accelerate uphill through Turn 20, with the drivers struggling to get the power down with a lot of wheel spin. By the time they get the car settled it is straight into Turn 21, which is flat out in an F1 car. This corner goes over a crest, making the back end light, and at the same time giving the drivers massive understeer. Should they get this right, it is straight into braking for Turn 22.
What are the chances of a first corner incident?
You would think high looking at the circuit map, but the stats for the circuit shows that there has never been an incident at the first corner yet. Usually there is some contact going through Turns 2 and 3, and sometimes at Turn 4, but so far nothing at Turn 1. Could all change this year though
Where are the overtaking spots?
With the circuit being dominated by long straights and heavy braking areas, there are in theory several overtaking spots. In reality, there is only the one - down into Turn 1. Expect to see several moves going into here in the early laps of the race, but little else afterwards. We may get the odd overtaking move into Turns 18 and 19, and also Turn 20, but these are rare indeed.
What about tyre wear and brake wear?
They will be a factor here, especially as the teams will still be learning how to make these last with heavier tanks. Tyre wear is usually a factor here because of the sand surrounding the circuit, and with refuelling gone, I expect to see the teams stopping twice for fresh tyres, with very little variation in which laps they stop. Brake wear will also be an issue due to the long straights followed by hard braking areas, and it could become an issue for some of the teams in the closing laps, especially with the heavy fuel load at the beginning of the race. It is not unheard of for drivers to suffer a long brake pedal during the closing laps of a race
And pit stops?
As I mentioned before, the absence of refuelling means that pit stop strategy should be, in theory, less of a factor on the race. The teams will be keeping an eye on their brakes throughout the race and tyre wear, so I expect them to stop twice, with perhaps one or two of the new teams running long than the rest. The teams could play it safe at the first race as they learn how to make the tyres last over a stint with the heavier fuel loads at the start.
Who will be favourite going into the race?
At this point it is impossible to tell - all that it is certain is that one of the 24 drivers on the grid will win. Pre-season testing can only tell us so much, but more often than not won’t give us a true reflection due to the teams all being at different periods of car development. Many people expect the usual suspects of Ferrari and McLaren to be up at the front, joined by last year’s dominating teams Mercedes and Red Bull, but until they begin circling the Bahrain International Circuit we won’t know who might take victory.
Virtual lap of the Bahrain International Circuit - on board with Nico Hulkenberg (Williams)
Interesting article.The part I find most intersting is the impact on tyre and brakes.
Bahrain is notoriously heavy on brakes and this year with the cars carrying such a heavy fuel load brake problems are very likely to occur.
Brake specs for this season have not changed from last year, and even then we saw RBR and others suffering braking problems.
On the subject of tyres, Bridgestone have released some very informative information.
"Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development, says there is little separating the big four teams in terms of tyre degradation – but Sauber is a different case.
"We have compared many teams' data and looking at the quick [four] teams – their degradation tendency is very, very similar," he told AUTOSPORT. "Once they have the 150kg start weight, with both the medium and soft compound, then there is little difference – so we could expect a very close pace. However, Sauber is more consistent."
Apparently the Sauber C29 is rather easier on it's tyres than the others.
On a side note, the common concensus that Button will have an advantage due to his smooth style, and Hamilton will suffer due to his widely believed harsh on tyres style doesn't appear to be backed up by these comments by Bridgestone.
It was Hamilton who carried out a simulated 66 lap race at Barcelona, with two tyre stops, which is the normal strategy for the Sanish gp.
Posted by: sportsman | March 09, 2010 at 08:07 AM
Link to Bridgestone article.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81937
Posted by: sportsman | March 09, 2010 at 08:10 AM