Formula 1 - Bahrain GP Preview

April 11th, 2007

Formula 1 - Bahrain GP Preview

The F1 circus is back in Bahrain. Last year Bahrain opened the season. This year they have their ususal 3rd race spot in calendar back.

Here is the track preview - watch a lap with Schumi behind the wheel:

This is the fourth Bahrain GP. Here are the highlights from 3 previous races here:

Here are the finishers in previous 3 races. Only Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso won here. It looks like Alonso is not without a chance to repeat his last year win. Button would probably need some divine intervention to repeat his 4th place finish. Williams had their best race of the season here last year, with both cars in points and Nico Rosberg recording the fastest lap on his F1 debut. Judging from their form so far this year, they may have shot at points here again. Ferrari and McLaren should be at the top. There seems to be not too much separating them now. Both BMW and Williams pulled some impressive performances in Melbourne and Sepang. Renault, Red Bull and Toyota all have realistic chances to score some points. Let’s hope this will bring some entertainment not only in qualifying but also on the race day.

2006 (Season Opener)
1) Fernando Alonso – Renault - 1:29:46.20
2) Michael Schumacher – Ferrari +1.2 secs
3) Kimi Räikkönen - McLaren-Mercedes +19.3 secs
4) Jenson Button – Honda +19.9 secs
5) Juan Pablo Montoya - McLaren-Mercedes +37.0 secs
6) Mark Webber - Williams-Cosworth +41.9 secs
7) Nico Rosberg - Williams-Cosworth +63.0 secs
8)Christian Klien - RBR-Ferrari +66.7 secs
9) Felipe Massa – Ferrari +69.9 secs
10) David Coulthard - RBR-Ferrari +75.5 secs
11) Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth +85.9 secs
12) Nick Heidfeld - Sauber-BMW +1 Lap
13) Scott Speed - STR-Cosworth +1 Lap
14) Ralf Schumacher – Toyota +1 Lap
15) Rubens Barrichello – Honda +1 Lap
16) Jarno Trulli – Toyota +1 Lap
17) Tiago Monteiro - MF1-Toyota +2 Laps
18) Takuma Sato - Super Aguri-Honda +4 Laps

2005
1) Fernando Alonso – Renault - 1:29:18.531
2) Jarno Trulli – Toyota +13.4 secs
3) Kimi Räikkönen - McLaren-Mercedes +32.0 secs
4) Ralf Schumacher – Toyota +53.2 secs
5) Pedro de la Rosa - McLaren-Mercedes +64.9 secs
6) Mark Webber - Williams-BMW +74.7 secs
7) Felipe Massa - Sauber-Petronas +1 Lap
8)David Coulthard - RBR-Cosworth +1 Lap
9) Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari +1 Lap
10) Tiago Monteiro - Jordan-Toyota +2 Laps
11) Jacques Villeneuve - Sauber-Petronas Ret. Suspension
12) Patrick Friesacher - Minardi-Cosworth +3 Laps
13) Christijan Albers - Minardi-Cosworth +4 Laps

2004
1) Michael Schumacher – Ferrari - 1:28:34.875
2) Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari +1.3 secs
3) Jenson Button - BAR-Honda +26.6 secs
4) Jarno Trulli – Renault +32.2 secs
5) Takuma Sato - BAR-Honda +52.4 secs
6) Fernando Alonso – Renault +53.1 secs
7) Ralf Schumacher - Williams-BMW +58.1 secs
8)Mark Webber - Jaguar-Cosworth +1 Lap
9) Olivier Panis – Toyota +1 Lap
10) Cristiano da Matta – Toyota +1 Lap
11) Giancarlo Fisichella - Sauber-Petronas +1 Lap
12) Felipe Massa - Sauber-Petronas +1 Lap
13) Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams-BMW +1 Lap
14) Christian Klien - Jaguar-Cosworth +1 Lap
15) Nick Heidfeld - Jordan-Ford +1 Lap
16) Giorgio Pantano - Jordan-Ford +2 Laps
17) Gianmaria Bruni - Minardi-Cosworth +5 Laps