Bahrain: Figures and Technical Data

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar since 2004 and is one of the most challenging races for drivers and cars due to the intense heat. It is generally on this track that the car bodies are “most open” to allow optimum cooling of the engine and F1 components.

The layout consists of several straight lines, where a good top speed will be crucial, but also some more technical sections with slow corners, where having downforce will be important.

To help with overtaking, the FIA has decided to set up two DRS zones, as it did last week in China, along with two detection zones. On the FIA side, Mika Salo will be the driver steward this weekend in Bahrain.

On the statistics side, qualifying is important; indeed, no driver starting beyond the second row on the grid has ever managed to win. Fernando Alonso is the driver with the most victories at this Bahraini event, with three wins out of eight editions contested. On the constructors’ side, Scuderia Ferrari has won the most often, four times – Schumacher in 2004, Massa in 2007 and 2008, and Alonso in 2010.

Sakhir chassis side

Tom McCullough, Track Engineering Manager at Sauber F1 Team:

The Bahrain circuit is dominated by several long straights with a few corners mainly tackled at slow and medium speeds. This places particular importance on aerodynamic efficiency and a car with good low-speed performance – notably from a traction standpoint. The track is also very demanding on the tires.

The environment in the desert results in a rather dusty track – especially when the wind picks up. The risk of showers is low, and the usually high air and track temperatures are a real challenge for car cooling and tire management.

Sakhir engine side

Rémi Taffin, Track Operations Director of Renault Sport F1:

« Sakhir is in the middle of the pack regarding engine demands, as drivers are at full throttle between 55 and 60% of the lap. With a wide variety of corners, medium-length straights, and relatively long periods at full throttle, it’s more the external factors that influence our preparation than the track itself.

The high ambient temperature obviously plays a role in cooling, as the engine’s heat cannot dissipate effectively. We try as much as possible not to create openings in the bodywork, as this negatively impacts the car’s aerodynamic performance. Instead, we aim to have as little heat as possible to be expelled by the cooling system. For this, we operate the engine with high water and oil temperatures, but this also means that the internal components must function under higher temperature constraints, and everything needs to be monitored very carefully.

Moreover, when the temperature rises, engine tuning is particular because the speed of sound propagation increases proportionally. Indeed, the sound pressure waves created by the engine reach the intake valves more quickly. The length of the trumpets (which regulate the air intake into the engine from the airbox) must therefore be increased for the engine to function properly. It’s quite similar to tuning a musical instrument. In Bahrain, we use the longest trumpets, which allow us to achieve a power curve equivalent to ‘normal’ conditions.

The lack of humidity in this desert atmosphere is also complex for the engine. We might even have to deal with an engine that ‘knocks’ if it’s not adjusted properly. This highly destructive phenomenon is due to abnormal combustion of air and fuel, which causes massive strain on the pistons. To prevent this phenomenon, we adjust the ignition specifically on test benches where we know how to simulate the climatic conditions.

Sakhir tire side

The available tires for the drivers in Sakhir are as follows:

• Mediums (white sidewalls) ;
• Hards (orange sidewalls) ;
• Intermediates (green sidewalls) ;
• Rain (blue sidewalls).

Paul Hembery’s opinion, director of Pirelli Motorsport:

« Bahrain was one of the very few completely new circuits for us in competition last year, although we were familiar with it thanks to testing. It is one of the most demanding circuits of the season for tires, mainly due to the high temperatures in the air and on the track. We are expecting three pit stops per car, although we need to wait to see running on Friday to analyze the data and make more accurate predictions.

One of the main challenges in Bahrain is related to the evolving track, which is difficult to predict and dependent on the amount of sand blown onto the circuit. Based on our observations from last year, there will be a wide margin for different race strategies, which could allow drivers who did not qualify well to make a comeback during the Grand Prix.

Opinion of Jean Alesi, Pirelli ambassador:

Bahrain is a circuit on which I have never raced during my F1 career, but I drove there in the Speedcar Series – a kind of NASCAR – in 2009. In fact, I won the race! After a change in the layout, we are back to the original version and it is a beautiful circuit, where you definitely need to find the rhythm. If you can achieve that, it will give you a good lap time but you also need to ensure that the tires are kept in the best possible condition, as it will be an important factor in the race.

The circuit is quite demanding on the tires, but it’s an area where drivers still have an influence. Bahrain is also physically challenging, a good level of physical preparation is necessary.

Sakhir in numbers

The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix

Pole position.

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) in 1:32.422

Podium.

1 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2 – Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus)

3 – Romain Grosjean (Lotus)

Fastest lap in race:

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) in 1:36.379

[From the press releases issued by the FIA, Pirelli, Renault Sport F1, and Sauber F1]