More than this, protesters have threatened ‘days of rage’ to
coincide with the Bahrain GP, not good news for the drivers or the sport.
Germany's Nico Hulkenberg said "It is obviously not right that that sort
of stuff happens, we're here to race. The F1 business is about entertainment
and these sorts of things should not really be happening to us. Whether it is
right or not, I don't really know. I am not a politician, I am an F1 driver.”
In 2011, the Bahrain GP was cancelled due to political unrest in and around the
capital, Manama.
Tough Track Conditions
Other drivers seemed calm during a media briefing held on
Thursday and are looking forward to a challenging race come Sunday. The Bahrain
GP is considered to be the toughest race in the F1 calendar. The Sakhir
International Circuit will be the battleground for Sunday’s race, offering good
grip and medium abrasion. However, the elements on this particular track are
something to consider. Temperatures often exceed 35 degrees with the track temperature
easily reaching 60 degrees. Drivers experience rapid dehydration, as much as 3
litres during the race’s 57 laps and tyre wear is more drastic in these harsh
conditions. Desert sand sweeping across the track can cause problems in terms
of grip but also may clog air intake and cooling systems on the cars.
Who Will Win?
Statistically speaking Fernando Alonso is considered the
most successful driver in Bahrain with three wins out of seven races, two with
Renault and one with Ferrari. Felipe Massa has recorded two wins in Bahrain
with Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher with one win each. Red Bull’s Sebastian
Vettel has been out-qualified three times in a row by Mark Webber and will look
to improve this time round in Bahrain. Kimi Räikkönen reckons Lotus will be on
the podium but it’s anyone’s guess as to who will win in Bahrain.
Petrol bombs and all, the Bahrain GP is set to be a show of
explosive driving, hold on to your seats…
No comments:
Post a Comment