F1, Round One, the 2010 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix... Spoilers inside!!!

[TheReason]

[TheReason]

Sakhir

The 2004 Grand Prix of Bahrain marked the first ever round of the FIA Formula One World Championship to be held in the Middle East and the official culmination of a multi-million dollar project started back in September 2002 when the Kingdom of Bahrain signed a long-term deal to host the event.

Located at Sakhir, 30 km south-west of the island's capital, Manama, the Herman Tilke designed circuit contains no less than five track layouts within one complex. Construction began in November 2002 and in the months prior to its March 2004 completion, work was going on around the clock. Over 12,000 tonnes of stone were used in the build, a third of it Welsh granite, chosen for the track surface due to its excellent adhesive qualities.

The 6.299 km Grand Prix circuit was designed with the spectator in mind, with 50,000 grandstand seats, all providing excellent views. Those spectators (a total of 100,000 over a race weekend) get to see the cars heading into the external desert area, before coming back into the oasis-styled infield. Up to 500 journalists can also witness the action from the venue's purpose-built media centre.

The track offers the driver a unique experience in the way the circuit's width varies at the end of the different straights. This allows for diverse racing lines, and the 23-corner design provides at least three genuine overtaking opportunities.

Times:

Fri 12 March 2010
Practice 1 -- 02:00 - 03:30
Practice 2 -- 06:00 - 07:30

Sat 13 March 2010
Practice 3 -- 03:00 - 04:00
Qualifying -- 06:00

Sun 14 March 2010
Race -- 08:00

[JZ oo7]

Hamilton
Massa
Alonso

one of the Renaults will run out of fuel.

[TheReason]

This setup will be a regular routine done one week prior to the start of the next race.

If anyone has any suggestions or would like something changed, please let me know and I will look into it.

I think it is going to be...

Rosberg
Massa
Hammy

[NW OBS]

Hammy
Schumacher
Masa

[ScoobyDad]

There is a lot of concern with the lack of pace in the brand new teams. Yesterday in practice there was an almost 12 sec difference in lap times.


Looks like they picked it up a LITTLE for qualifying.....only about a 10 sec difference.


I see the back markers getting lapped in just a few short laps.


Hope this does not cause other issues in the race.

[JZ oo7]

can't wait to see their race pace with a heavy load!

[TheReason]

Very uneventful until about 15 laps left.

Whitmarsh made some good suggestions on making it more entertaining...

autosport.com - F1 News: Changes urged to improve show

[TheReason]

The Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain;
49 laps; 308.405km;
Weather: Sunny.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Alonso -- Ferrari --1h39:20.396
2. Massa -- Ferrari -- +16.099
3. Hamilton -- McLaren-Mercedes -- +23.182
4. Vettel -- Red Bull-Renault -- +38.713
5. Rosberg -- Mercedes -- +40.263
6. Schumacher -- Mercedes -- +44.180
7. Button -- McLaren-Mercedes -- +45.260
8. Webber -- Red Bull-Renault -- +46.308
9. Liuzzi -- Force India-Mercedes -- +53.089
10. Barrichello -- Williams-Cosworth -- +1:02.400
11. Kubica -- Renault -- +1:09.093
12. Sutil -- Force India-Mercedes -- +1:22.958
13. Alguersuari -- Toro Rosso-Ferrari -- +1:32.656
14. Hulkenberg -- Williams-Cosworth -- +1 lap
15. Kovalainen -- Lotus-Cosworth -- +1 lap
16. Buemi Toro -- Rosso-Ferrari -- +3 laps
17. Trulli -- Lotus-Cosworth -- +3 laps

Fastest lap: Alonso, 1:58.287

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
De la Rosa -- Sauber-Ferrari -- 30
Senna -- HRT-Cosworth -- 18
Glock -- Virgin-Cosworth -- 17
Petrov -- Renault -- 14
Kobayashi -- Sauber-Ferrari -- 12
Di Grassi -- Virgin-Cosworth -- 3
Chandhok -- HRT-Cosworth -- 2


All timing unofficial

[NW OBS]

Nice race tonight... had to wait till after work to watch. Go BIG RED! Great job by the team. And Michael did better then I thought he would!