Bahrain Grand Prix 31th March
The circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is the only track on the Formula One calendar to be located in the middle of the desert. It can be windy there, meaning that the track is almost certainly dusty, with lower grip in the earlier practice sessions. The teams must also be cautious and cover or apply filters for the engine inlets and other areas where sand can easily get into the car and cause issues.
Night session
The Bahrain GP is one of three night races of the year, followed by Singapore and Abu Dhabi, the latter being a twilight race. The Bahrain GP starts at dusk while the track is still somewhat warm, but due to the desert weather, air and track temperatures drop quickly and considerably as the race goes on. This affects both the tyres and the balance of the car. In this respect, the FP2 and qualifying sessions, which are held at similar times as the race, are crucial to get the set-up of the car correct for the race.
Tyre selection
Medium, Soft and Supersoft – The track surface is very abrasive, but the circuit layout is less demanding. A one-stopper is possible with this combination of tyres, depending on what strategy each team takes during the race.
