As F1 heads to Bahrain for the second race of the 2016 season there will be a notable absence on track: Fernando Alonso. After suffering a spectacular crash in Melbourne which saw the MP4-31 roll through the air before coming to a rest upside down, a chest scan has indicated that Alonso hasn’t healed sufficiently enough to take part in the Bahrain race weekend. In his place McLaren has tapped reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne who will make his F1 debut. Based on the maligned new qualifying format still in place, upgrades still due, and Vandoorne’s [lack of] F1 experience, expectations should not be set overly high for a good result this weekend.
Things are quite close between Mercedes and Ferrari but we don’t yet have evidence that Ferrari has truly closed the gap. We may get a better idea this weekend but a more valid test will be if/when the old qualifying format is restored. Despite this battle, much of the attention in Melbourne was focused on Max Verstappen’s radio outbursts over the position he found himself in. There has been some debate over whether he had a point or whether it was a lack of maturity coming through. Overshadowed by Verstappen’s display, Daniel Ricciardo was able to achieve a very good result with a Renault engine supposedly down on power; keep an eye on Red Bull to see if they can duplicate that result. And if Haas F1’s debut was any indication, expect them to be back in the points.
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice 1, Fri 4/1, 7:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Practice 2, Fri 4/1, 11:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
Practice 3, Fri 4/2, 8:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Qualifying, Sat 4/2, 11:00AM
EST
,
CNBC
Race, Sun 4/3, 10:30AM
EST
,
CNBC
CIRCUIT
INFORMATION:
Lap data
Lap length: 5.412km (3.363 miles)
Race laps: 57
Race distance: 308.238km (191.53 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’31.447 (213.055 kph) by Pedro de la Rosa, 2005
Fastest lap: 1’29.527 (217.624 kph) by Mark Webber, 2005
Maximum speed: 314kph (195.11 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and third straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 265m
Car performance
Full throttle: 66%
Longest flat-out section: 1205m
Downforce level: Medium
Fuel use per lap: 1.8kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.054s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 21.031s by Red Bull
2015 prime tyre: Medium (2014: Medium)
2013 option tyre: Soft (2014: Soft)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2015 (V6
TURBO
ERA
) RESULTS:
Race laps: 57
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton
Fast race lap: 1:33.311
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
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