The 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix was not only the country’s first F1 race, but also the first to take place in the Middle East.
The third round of the season took place at the brand-new Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, with Ferrari taking a controlled one-two finish.
However, there was plenty of action and drama behind the two Prancing Horses. Michael Schumacher started on pole position, ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
The conditions were uncharacteristically cool for the first Bahrain Grand Prix, with spots of rain falling earlier in the day. This proved to be a big help for the Bridgestone-shod Ferrari cars, with Michael Schumacher running off into the distance at the start.
Barrichello got a bit too close to comfort after a lock-up at Turn 1 but retained second, ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button.
Kimi Raikkonen and Mark Webber were involved in a feisty battle near the back of the field, before the McLaren’s engine failed – something that would be a regular occurrence in 2004.
Sato and Ralf Schumacher then got caught up in a close scrap for fourth place but it all ended in tears at Turn 2 when they collided. Both managed to continue but crucial time was lost. One driver who benefitted from the crash was Button, who put in a good performance for BAR to move up to third place in the closing stages, also helped by Montoya slipping back with a problem.
He fended off Trulli fair and square to claim the final podium spot, almost half a minute behind Michael Schumacher and Barrichello. Sato recovered to fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso in the Renault and Ralf Schumacher in the Williams, despite an extra pit stop to check for suspension damage after his clash with Sato.
Webber picked up the final point in eighth. Montoya fell to 13th, one lap down, while David Coulthard made it two retirements out of two for McLaren after a mechanical issue.
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| © Scuderia Ferrari |
However, there was plenty of action and drama behind the two Prancing Horses. Michael Schumacher started on pole position, ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
The conditions were uncharacteristically cool for the first Bahrain Grand Prix, with spots of rain falling earlier in the day. This proved to be a big help for the Bridgestone-shod Ferrari cars, with Michael Schumacher running off into the distance at the start.
Barrichello got a bit too close to comfort after a lock-up at Turn 1 but retained second, ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button.
Kimi Raikkonen and Mark Webber were involved in a feisty battle near the back of the field, before the McLaren’s engine failed – something that would be a regular occurrence in 2004.
Sato and Ralf Schumacher then got caught up in a close scrap for fourth place but it all ended in tears at Turn 2 when they collided. Both managed to continue but crucial time was lost. One driver who benefitted from the crash was Button, who put in a good performance for BAR to move up to third place in the closing stages, also helped by Montoya slipping back with a problem.
He fended off Trulli fair and square to claim the final podium spot, almost half a minute behind Michael Schumacher and Barrichello. Sato recovered to fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso in the Renault and Ralf Schumacher in the Williams, despite an extra pit stop to check for suspension damage after his clash with Sato.
Webber picked up the final point in eighth. Montoya fell to 13th, one lap down, while David Coulthard made it two retirements out of two for McLaren after a mechanical issue.
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