As the Formula 1 circus heads to Bahrain for the third Grand Prix of 2008 it is shaping up to be another fascinating season. So far honours are even between Ferrari and McLaren with one win apiece. Ferrari have the advantage of having tested at the Sakhir circuit so will be going into the weekend full of confidence but McLaren cannot be discounted. Heikki Kovaleinen has shown already this year that he is not overawed by his team-mate, the mercurial Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, the BMW Sauber’s of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica continue to threaten the top two.
This year marks Formula 1’s fifth visit to the impressive Sakhir facility. The first race in 2004 saw a Michael Schumacher victory, giving the German the 125th podium finish of his career. Renault’s Fernando Alonso won the next two events before Ferrari claimed back the top step in 2007 with Felipe Massa's victory. McLaren have not fared well in Bahrain with just two podium finishes over the preceding four races.
The track itself is characterised by very large run-off areas. Although they undoubtedly improve safety they also allow driving mistakes to go relatively unpunished. The first corner, a tight right-hander, offers a prime overtaking opportunity. One of the main concerns during the construction of the circuit was that, being situated in a desert, sand would blow onto the track, but this has proved not to be a problem. The large run-offs ensure that any sand is a considerable distance from the track.
With Renault struggling for pace so far in 2008 history suggests that the Bahrain Grand Prix may well be a Ferrari benefit. The BMW Sauber's have a good chance of racing with Ferrari and McLaren once again. Currently their driver Nick Heidfeld is tied with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for second place in the championship. Behind them the midfield battle should be as intense as ever. Toyota's 2008 challenger is a vast improvement over previous years and should be consistently in the points throughout the season. Meanwhile the Red Bull pairing of Mark Webber and David Coulthard will be eager to translate their car's obvious potential into points finishes. The only certainty is that, whoever finishes on the podium on Sunday, they will not be spraying champagne. Success is celebrated with a non-alcoholic rosewater drink.
- Race date: Sunday 4th April, 2008
- Race distance: 57 laps
- Circuit length: 3.363 miles (5.412 km)
- Lap record: 1 min 30.252 seconds (Michael Schumacher, 2004)
- Weather forecast: Saturday: sunny with some cloud, Sunday: sunny with some cloud.
Previous Winners
- 2004 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2005 (Fernando Alonso, Renault)
- 2006 (Fernando Alonso, Renault)
- 2007 (Felipe Massa, Ferrari)
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