The second race of the 2019 F1 calendar takes us to Bahrain International Circuit for the 15th running of what was the first Grand Prix in a middle eastern country. It is also one of three night races on the F1 calendar. Owed to its wide racing surface, Bahrain has given us some great wheel-to-wheel racing and could be the one circuit where being on pole is a disadvantage with the pole sitter winning only 6 of 14 races here.

Both Red Bull teams enter the weekend buoyed by their performances in Australia where Red Bull Racing scored a podium finish on debut with Honda and Toro Rosso scored a point. What’s more is data from speed traps prove that the Honda engine is making power competitive with Ferrari and Mercedes, if only at a small deficit. Bahrain will be an interesting test for the Honda-powered teams as the circuit is more about hard acceleration, hard braking, and deployment than outright handling. We should expect Toro Rosso to have a car in the points. On the Red Bull side Bahrain has been a hunting ground for Ferrari so a podium will be difficult to achieve, though not impossible. Regardless, expect high points-paying positions.

Elsewhere on the grid, Ferrari has a history of solid performances in Bahrain and have been working feverishly to repeat after a questionable outing in Melbourne. Mercedes clearly have pace in-hand so they will be challenging for the win. For the title of “best of the rest” we must watch Haas whose Ferrari engine and pace in Melbourne bodes well for the American squad. Renault will be working hard to battle Haas but this may not be the circuit for them to do it, although Ricciardo’s braking prowess will be an asset here. Expect the Alfa Romeo team to slot in within or just behind this battle. McLaren and Racing Point will be duking it out for lower points-paying positions although only one car from each team should be expected to have that chance. Williams will be bringing up the rear until they can sort out what was described as a fundamental issue with their car.

US TV SCHEDULE:

Practice 1 – Friday, March 29, 6:55 AM – ESPNU
Practice 2 – Friday, March 29, 10:55 AM – ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, March 30, 7:55 AM – ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, March 30, 10:55 AM – ESPN2
On The Grid – Sunday, March 31, 10:30 AM – ESPN2
Race – Sunday, March 31, 11:05 AM – ESPN2

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
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
2019 tyres: Hard (C1), Medium (C2), Soft (C3) (2018: Medium, Soft, & Supersoft)

*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources: FIA , Williams, Mercedes

2018 RESULTS:

Race laps: 57
Pole position: Sebastian Vettel, 1:27.958
Fast race lap: Valtteri Bottas, 1:33.740
Podium
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

CURRENT STANDINGS:

Drivers
1. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 26
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 18
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 15
4. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 12
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 10
6. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 8
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 6
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing, 4
9. Lance Stroll, Racing Point, 2
10. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 44
2. Ferrari, 22
3. Red Bull, 15
4. Haas, 8
5. Renault, 6
6. Alfa Romeo Racing, 4
7. Racing Point, 2
8. Toro Rosso, 1
9. McLaren, 0
10. Williams, 0