[This report will be updated with the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix Report. Please refresh your browser for updates after the race. And enjoy the F1 season opener.]
For many individuals currently participating in the race, in hindsight, the mischievous grin Gianpiero Lambiase displayed when he witnessed his driver take the top spot on the timesheets during the initial day of testing at Sakhir last month, served as an early indication of what we observed during Qualifying on Friday, in Bahrain.
As predicted (once again), Verstappen secured the powerful Red Bull RB20 in the first position on the grid. This marks his 33rd pole position in the highest level of motorsport, equalling the achievements of F1 legends Jim Clark and Alain Prost, with a lead of a quarter second over a highly competitive field. Sound familiar?
This scenario is expected to persist throughout the current era of F1 regulations, which will continue until the conclusion of 2025. It is highly improbable that Adrian Newey’s RBR design team will fail to produce a benchmark car for the 2026 F1 regulations.
However, that is a distant future. For now, Verstappen will provide us with a glimpse of the RB20’s race pace from P1 on the grid and is considered the favorite to win the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix, with Betway offering odds of 1/6. It is suggested that the Dutchman will be unbeatable and secure his 55th Grand Prix victory by the end of the night in Bahrain.
On the 20th anniversary of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the individual most likely to challenge Verstappen starts in P2, Charles Leclerc, representing Ferrari. Bookies offer odds of 7/1 for Leclerc to win the season-opener.
Can Leclerc emerge victorious? Ferrari’s race pace indicates they might have a slim chance, but even their own drivers are not convinced, especially with Mercedes also in contention. There seems to be little difference between the two prominent teams for today’s race at Sakhir.
George Russell starts in P3, trailing behind Verstappen, and will be eager to make a strong start to shake things up, alongside Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari. Those are the top two rows.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez will start two rows behind the #1 car, in P5. Once the chaos settles after what is expected to be a frantic start, Perez is expected to lead the pursuit of Verstappen, thanks to the RB20’s impressive pace. Unless there are any mishaps during the chaotic opening lap, this applies to the entire group of drivers behind the front row, all hurtling into Turn 1.
Alonso, the oldest driver in F1, placed the Aston Martin P6 on the track. His statement that he feels a strong connection with the car suggests that it wouldn’t be surprising if the Spaniard ends up on the podium tonight. This marks his 379th F1 start.
Following behind him, Lando Norris is in P7 and Oscar Piastri is in P8, both sporting the color orange. The McLaren team may be the dark horses of the race, as they haven’t revealed their true pace yet.
Lewis Hamilton, in his final Bahrain Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver before his move to Ferrari, starts in P9. He praises his “real race car” but admits that he lacked speed during Friday’s qualifying session compared to his teammate Russell.
In our preview on NewsDesk Unplugged, we discussed the relationship between Russell and Hamilton, as well as how Mercedes will handle the departure of Ferrari-defector. The same dynamics can be seen at Ferrari between Leclerc and Sainz.
The top 10 points scorers are expected to come from the top five rows on the grid. However, there are several interesting storylines and talking points beyond this tight pack.
This weekend marks the start of the 2024 F1 season in Bahrain. The schedule has been adjusted due to the start of Ramadan in March. The usual grand prix weekend schedule has been moved up by one day, with practice sessions on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and the race itself on Saturday.
The teams arrive at the Sakhir track with a good understanding of how the cars and tires perform on this abrasive surface. Traction and braking stability are crucial for performance, both in qualifying and during the race.
Track conditions are influenced by temperature and wind. The heat of the day during two of the three practice sessions makes it challenging to gather accurate race data. The wind can blow sand onto the track, making the balance of the cars unpredictable. Thermal degradation and tire wear are significant factors that affect race performance.
The Bahrain Grand Prix offers multiple opportunities for overtaking, especially in Turns 1, 4, and 11. The degradation of the tires and the resulting variety of race strategies adds to the excitement of the race.
In last year’s #BahrainGP, most teams opted for a two-stop strategy using the C1 and C3 tires, while McLaren used the C2 tire. (Source: Pirelli)