All cards on the table
It’s time; the winter break is over and it’s time for action in Formula 1 again! After three days of winter testing in Bahrain, it’s time for the real work at the same place next weekend. Does Red Bull immediately show its business card, or will Ferrari float to the surface again?
Times GP Bahrain
In the new Formula 1 season there are no less than six race weekends with a sprint race, but it starts in Bahrain just nice and traditional. That is to say: there are three free practice sessions, followed by qualifying and the race. However, you have to pay attention if you want to follow the first and third free practice sessions live, because they do not start on a whole hour, but on half an hour. The times below are the Dutch times.
| Date | Session | Time |
| Friday Mar 3 | First free practice | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Friday Mar 3 | Second free practice | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday Mar 4 | Third free practice | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Saturday Mar 4 | Qualification | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday Mar 5 | Race | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is far from the most spectacular circuit of the Formula 1 calendar, but it is a track where you can expect action. The first corner of the track designed by Hermann Tilke was mainly the scene of various overtaking actions last year. Especially the ‘change penny’ between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in turn 1 and then also in turn 4. In 2020, this was driven twice and the outer ring of the circuit was used for the second race. In that spectacular race, Sergio Pérez drove his Racing Point from last place to victory.
This weekend there will be driving in Bahrain again in daylight as well as in the dark, which of course creates an extra challenge due to the changing track temperature. In any case, qualifying and the race will take place in the dark. On Sunday the drivers will drive 57 laps, covering a total race distance of 308.24 km. The lap record has been in the books for a while: that of Pedro de la Rosa, who went around the 5.41 km long track in 1:31.447 in 2005. Last year, Charles Leclerc took pole position here with 1:30.558 and also set the fastest race lap (1:34.570).
Weather forecast
It probably won’t surprise you, but it will be warm and sunny in Bahrain this weekend. At its warmest, well towards 30 degrees, with Sunday possibly as the hottest day. In that respect, it makes a difference for the drivers that qualifying and the race are held in the dark, when the temperatures have already dropped somewhat. The second free practice is the most important because of the timing, as it gives the best picture of the conditions during qualifying and the race.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl