The second round of the 2016 Formula 1 season takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.
It is the 12th running of the event and follows an action-packed season opener in Australia, where Nico Rosberg triumphed for Mercedes.
Following a brief break, the F1 paddock will reconvene at the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which should give us a better look at the 2016 pecking order.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its debut on the F1 schedule, the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix was held at night and under floodlights. Like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the race begins as the sun sets and ends under dark skies.
The race proved to be highly memorable for a brilliant wheel-to-wheel battle between Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Rosberg. Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix saw Ferrari enter the battle, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen battling the Mercedes duo. Hamilton eventually won from Raikkonen and Rosberg.
While there will be some respite from the sun in Bahrain, temperatures will remain hot and humid. It can also be extremely windy at the track, which also causes dust and sand to be blown onto the circuit, creating tricky conditions. Friday’s running often takes place with low grip levels before the track rubbers on.
The Albert Park Circuit hosted the first round of the new 2016 season but the track, located in Melbourne, is an unusual one and fails to really give us a proper look at the competitive order. The Bahrain International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, is more straight-forward and will show off the true pace of this year’s cars.
Mercedes looks to be the team to beat once again, but Ferrari appears to be much closer. Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams and Force India all look to be in the mix behind, with Renault, Haas, McLaren and Sauber next up. The former finished sixth on its debut but the team remains realistic about its competitiveness. Manor props up the order but has made good strides over the winter.
A lap of the 3.363 mile Bahrain International Circuit begins on the track’s longest straight, with the pitlane to the right. This is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The first corner is a tight right-hand hairpin and is undoubtedly the best overtaking spot on the rather conventional layout.
The second corner is a medium-speed left, with the flat-out Turn 3 quickly following on. This right-hander leads onto another long straight, which is then followed by the slow Turn 4 hairpin – another good overtaking opportunity, with a wide corner entry and exit to encourage different racing lines.
The second sector kicks off with the sweeping left-right-left section of Turns 5, 6 and 7 – similar to the Maggots/Becketts/Chapel section at Silverstone. Precision is very important here to carry speed onto the short, downhill straight that leads to Turn 8, which is a slow right-hander hairpin.
A short burst uphill leads to the tricky ninth and 10th turns, with drivers braking, steering and downshifting through the first of the two. A medium-length straight follows, which is where the second DRS zone will be. The 11th corner on the track is a medium-speed, sweeping left-hander.
It leads on to the faster right of Turn 12, with this fast section being a particular favourite for the drivers. Sector two comes to an end just prior to the braking zone for Turn 13, a medium-speed right that is followed by a long back straight.
The lap ends with another slow right-hander, which includes a tricky braking zone. The kink of Turn 15 is barely registered by the drivers.
The circuit is quite forgiving and features large tarmac run-off areas, as well as a couple of gravel traps thrown in. The pitlane entry is to the right and can sometimes cause confusion when drivers are battling for position.
The Bahrain International Circuit surface is made from granite imported from Wales and is quite abrasive. Pirelli will bring the medium, soft and super-soft tyre compounds to the race, with three nominations due to the new 2016 regulations.
The layout is stop/start in nature, which places more longitudinal stress on the tyres than it does lateral, meaning a car with good traction is incredibly important.
Gear ratios also play a big part in completing a quick lap time due to the long straights and grippy surface. The heavy braking zones also punish the brakes. Fernando Alonso is the most successful driver at the race, having won the Bahrain Grand Prix three times.
Bahrain Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Sakhir, Bahrain
Track Length: 3.36 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 15
Laps: 57
First race: 2004
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004, 1:30.252
Tyre compounds: Medium, soft and super-soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:32.571
2015 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:36.311
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4
 |
| © Mercedes AMG Petronas |
Following a brief break, the F1 paddock will reconvene at the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which should give us a better look at the 2016 pecking order.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its debut on the F1 schedule, the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix was held at night and under floodlights. Like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the race begins as the sun sets and ends under dark skies.
 |
| © Mercedes AMG Petronas |
The race proved to be highly memorable for a brilliant wheel-to-wheel battle between Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Rosberg. Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix saw Ferrari enter the battle, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen battling the Mercedes duo. Hamilton eventually won from Raikkonen and Rosberg.
While there will be some respite from the sun in Bahrain, temperatures will remain hot and humid. It can also be extremely windy at the track, which also causes dust and sand to be blown onto the circuit, creating tricky conditions. Friday’s running often takes place with low grip levels before the track rubbers on.
The Albert Park Circuit hosted the first round of the new 2016 season but the track, located in Melbourne, is an unusual one and fails to really give us a proper look at the competitive order. The Bahrain International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, is more straight-forward and will show off the true pace of this year’s cars.
Mercedes looks to be the team to beat once again, but Ferrari appears to be much closer. Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams and Force India all look to be in the mix behind, with Renault, Haas, McLaren and Sauber next up. The former finished sixth on its debut but the team remains realistic about its competitiveness. Manor props up the order but has made good strides over the winter.
 |
| © Red Bull Content Pool |
A lap of the 3.363 mile Bahrain International Circuit begins on the track’s longest straight, with the pitlane to the right. This is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The first corner is a tight right-hand hairpin and is undoubtedly the best overtaking spot on the rather conventional layout.
The second corner is a medium-speed left, with the flat-out Turn 3 quickly following on. This right-hander leads onto another long straight, which is then followed by the slow Turn 4 hairpin – another good overtaking opportunity, with a wide corner entry and exit to encourage different racing lines.
The second sector kicks off with the sweeping left-right-left section of Turns 5, 6 and 7 – similar to the Maggots/Becketts/Chapel section at Silverstone. Precision is very important here to carry speed onto the short, downhill straight that leads to Turn 8, which is a slow right-hander hairpin.
A short burst uphill leads to the tricky ninth and 10th turns, with drivers braking, steering and downshifting through the first of the two. A medium-length straight follows, which is where the second DRS zone will be. The 11th corner on the track is a medium-speed, sweeping left-hander.
 |
| © Red Bull Content Pool |
It leads on to the faster right of Turn 12, with this fast section being a particular favourite for the drivers. Sector two comes to an end just prior to the braking zone for Turn 13, a medium-speed right that is followed by a long back straight.
The lap ends with another slow right-hander, which includes a tricky braking zone. The kink of Turn 15 is barely registered by the drivers.
The circuit is quite forgiving and features large tarmac run-off areas, as well as a couple of gravel traps thrown in. The pitlane entry is to the right and can sometimes cause confusion when drivers are battling for position.
The Bahrain International Circuit surface is made from granite imported from Wales and is quite abrasive. Pirelli will bring the medium, soft and super-soft tyre compounds to the race, with three nominations due to the new 2016 regulations.
The layout is stop/start in nature, which places more longitudinal stress on the tyres than it does lateral, meaning a car with good traction is incredibly important.
Gear ratios also play a big part in completing a quick lap time due to the long straights and grippy surface. The heavy braking zones also punish the brakes. Fernando Alonso is the most successful driver at the race, having won the Bahrain Grand Prix three times.
Bahrain Grand Prix Fact File: Location: Sakhir, Bahrain
Track Length: 3.36 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 15
Laps: 57
First race: 2004
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004, 1:30.252
Tyre compounds: Medium, soft and super-soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:32.571
2015 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:36.311
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4
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