2012 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix preview

After three unbelievably exciting and unpredictable races in 2012, the F1 fraternity now travel to Sakhir for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix. With a serious debate over whether the race would go ahead or not due to violent protests, the FIA controversially certified that the event will definitely go ahead as planned this weekend.

During the first three races of the season in Australia, Malaysia and China rain has been a major threat and even caused the Malaysian Grand Prix to be momentarily suspended as a tropical storm hit the circuit. This trend is naturally set to end this weekend, with the sand and heat of the Sakhir International Circuit set to offers the teams’ with other worries.

With the temperatures at Sakhir set to reach 50°C (122°F) throughout the weekend, the teams’ will have their work cut out as they try and keep the cars cool. Another prominent factor of the weekend, once again, will be tyre degradation as the track will undoubtedly have sand blown across it during the course of the weekend. This eventuality could well have high implications on tyre wear, as well as the nature of the circuit which features long straights and heavy braking zones. Pirelli are bringing the P-Zero Soft (yellow) and the P-Zero Medium (white) tyre compounds this weekend, the same that were on offer in Australia and China earlier in the season.

The first ever Bahrain Grand Prix was held in 2004, and was won by the then dominant Michael Schumacher for Ferrari. The German was followed home by his team-mate Rubens Barrichello with Jenson Button finishing 3rd for BAR. Fernando Alonso won the next two races for Renault on his way to winning the World Drivers’ Championship in 2005 and 2006, before Felipe Massa won in both 2007 and 2008 for Ferrari. One thing is for certain, and it’s that Felipe Massa will most definitely have his work cut out to win his third race around the Sakhir circuit this weekend.

In 2009, Jenson Button won for Brawn GP after the two Toyota’s of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock lined-up on the front row. Button was finished seven seconds ahead of eventual title contender Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull with Jarno Trulli in 3rd.

For the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, the race took part on the lengthened 6.299km circuit. This layout involved 24 corners, and ran the distance of only 49 laps, in comparison to the usual 57 laps on the Grand Prix circuit. Fernando Alonso won this race, and was followed home by team-mate Massa for a Ferrari 1-2.

Last season, the race was postponed and then eventually canceled after violent protests rocked the Kingdom. At the time, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill was highly against the event going ahead. However, during the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend, the FIA controversially confirmed that the 2012 race would definitely go ahead.

This year, the track has been reverted to the original 5.406km ‘Grand Prix’ layout, and will run it’s usual 57 laps. The race weekend will be supported by the GP2 Series, as they take part in round two of their World Championship.

With the violence of the protesters ongoing in the Kingdom, question marks are still being raised as to whether the event will go ahead or not. However, with both Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone confident that it will, the teams’ and drivers’ seem happy to travel to Bahrain, for what will be the 8th running of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Every winner of the event will be on the grid come Sunday, however with a highly competitive field this season so far, many drivers’ have an opportunity to win the race.

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