The wait is over, the time has come to kick off the 2021 Formula 1 season this weekend in Bahrain which will be hosting the season-opener for the first time! Also the first Middle-Eastern circuit to ever host F1, Bahrain International Circuit circuit’s success was so important that that the aggregate for the asphalt was imported from a quarry in England over 4,000 miles away. Bahrain has given us some great wheel-to-wheel racing over the years and could be the one circuit where being on pole is a disadvantage with the pole sitter winning only 7 of 16 races here.
After a strong showing in pre-season testing Red Bull will approach the opening round of the season with confidence and with an eye toward avoiding the slow starts to the season the team has experienced for the past few years. Honda is likewise determined having brought forward a new engine architecture originally intended for 2022 in a bid to go out on a high as they leave the sport at the end of this year. On the driver side we expect to see continued strength from Max Verstappen and a strong partner in Sergio Perez who will finally allow them to use two-car strategies in races. Expect AlphaTauri to emerge strong in the midfield as a determined Pierre Gasly looks to build on a successful 2020 alongside new Honda-backed driver Yuki Tsunoda.
Elsewhere on the grid, despite a questionable showing at pre-season testing, if we’ve learned one thing during the V6 Hybrid era, it is to never assume Mercedes has faltered. As such we must consider them favorites in a race scenario until they prove otherwise. All eyes are on McLaren as a “new” contender as one of the top three teams with their trick rear diffuser, speed at pre-season testing, and a rumor they were told by Mercedes to slow it down so they don’t look bad. In terms of teams we can expect a tight three way battle immediately following the front runners which include the likes of Alpine (formerly Renault), Aston Marton (formerly Racing Point), and Ferrari as they work their way back up the grid after a dismal 2020. The other group of teams that will be jockeying for the next spots are Williams who should finally see a boost in performance, Alfa Romeo, and Haas which seems almost certain to bring up the rear this year with its purposely underdeveloped car and rookie drivers.
*Applies to 2021
US TV SCHEDULE
F1 Show – Thursday, March 25 – 1pm – ESPN3
Practice 1 – Friday, March 26 – 7.25am –
ESPNU
Practice 2 – Friday, March 26 – 10.55am –
ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, March 27 – 7.55am -ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, March 27 – 10.55am – ESPN2
Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race show) – Sunday, March 28 – 9.30am – ESPN2
Bahrain Grand Prix (live) – Sunday, March 28 – 10.55am – ESPN2
Race (re-air) – Sunday, March 28 – 5pm –
ESPNEWS
Race (re-air) – Monday, March 29 – 12am –
ESPNEWS
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
2020 tyres: Hard (C2, Medium (C3), Soft (C4) (2019: Hard (C1), Medium (C2), Soft (C3))
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2020 RESULTS
Race Info.
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, 1:27.264
Race laps: 57
Fast race lap: Max Verstappen, 1:32.014
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Alex Albon, Red Bull
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
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Constructors
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