Formula One will be back in action for round four of the World Championship, despite racing in Malaysia just last weekend. This round will be held under the lights of the Bahrain International Circuit in the deserts of Sakhir. This is a track like no other. At first glimpse of an image, you can instantly tell that it is Bahrain, as the track looks so radically different to all of the other circuits on the calendar. Because it is located in a desert area, heat will play a factor, but not as much of a factor as it was in the past because it will be a night race. Rain shouldn’t play any factor in the race, as we have never had rain during the weekend since the event was first held back in 2004. The weather should be rather predictable, seeing as the weather in this area is usually fairly stable.
Another difficult factor of the desert race, is the change in grip levels caused by sand in the area. Depending on the level of wind during the race, teams may have to be significantly flexible when it comes to changing tyres. The circuit itself is fast, yet filled with tight sequences of turns. It will be the most technically challenging circuit that we have been to in the 2015 season. Teams will have to add a lot more downforce to the car, compared to what they had in China. Two high speed straights in the last sector of the track will lead to lots of overtaking and could potentially lead to a close race between the leaders at the end of the Grand Prix.
Last season, the Bahrain was debatably the best race of the season. There were plenty of battles throughout the entire field, including a battle between the two Mercedes drivers. The race wasn’t short on drama either, as we saw a spectacular flip when Pastor Maldonado made contact with the Sauber of Esteban Gutiérrez. Last year was also the first year in which the event would be held as a night race. Apparently this idea was a success, as it will also be a night race this year.
The tension between the Mercedes duo is preparing to reach the levels that it did last season, as we saw lots of complaining by Nico Rosberg after the race in China. There has also been some speculation about whether the team are employing secret team orders. There is no doubt that Rosberg will be attempting to beat Lewis Hamilton, but from third on the grid, sandwiched between the two Ferraris, this seems like an impossible task. Starting from pole, Hamilton should be fast enough to get away from the Ferraris. The only thing that could change this is the possibility of a safety car. Rosberg, however, won’t be so lucky.
Both Ferrari cars have shown great pace in the practice and qualifying sessions. They claimed the top of the time sheets in a rather shuffled free practice one and have been setting times that were not far off of the Mercedes’ pace. They will be starting from second and fourth on the grid. Sebastian Vettel has the pace to maintain second position and challenge for the lead of the race. Kimi Räikkönen has been stuck in the shadow of Vettel this season, but there is no arguing that he also has stupendous pace. He can surely pass Rosberg for the bottom step of the podium and won’t be far behind his teammate.
As far as the top five drivers go, it has been pretty predictable who at least four of the drivers will be. However, the final spot of the top five has been a little bit less predictable. With the middle of the pack preforming so much better and closer, it has been up in the air. For Bahrain, I predict that Valtteri Bottas will get his Williams into fifth. It has been a popular opinion this weekend that his teammate, Felipe Massa, will be able to pass him, but the numbers just don’t show that. Massa has been well off his teamamte’s pace and, although he will be starting alongside of him on the grid, just doesn’t appear to have the pace required to get past his teammate.
No matter who wins, this event has been a highly anticipated one since we saw last year’s show. There should be a good sized crowd and a great amount of television viewers. Since this is a night race, it will be the first race of the season where fans in the Europe and North America won’t have to get up at absurd times to watch the Grand Prix. Nevertheless, if this race is half as exciting as it was last season, then the fans will surely be pleased.
