Bahrain preview quotes: Bridgestone

"Bridgestone's technical and support staff have been working extremely hard over the winter with our five teams to meet the new challenges that lie ahead and I know they have enjoyed working with the teams and an increased number of drivers. Among these drivers there are also two F1 rookies - Nico Rosberg, who was the first ever GP2 Champion last year, and Yuji Ide.

"With the introduction of V8 engines, the return of pit stops and a new qualifying format we are expecting an exciting season. This is Bridgestone's tenth season in F1 and we are delighted to be here supporting the championship and inviting our guests to watch the world's premiere single-seater racing series."

Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager: "The great thing about the first round of the year is that while we have conducted thorough testing programmes throughout the winter, until you get to the first race, you just never know quite where you stand!

"Our preparations this winter have been extensive and we have looked at all aspects of our tyre performance to find improvements. The ability to cross reference data and run several programmes simultaneously between the teams has been extremely beneficial and we are now just looking forward to going racing.

"We have new tyres this year as a reflection of the new regulations which include a return to pit stop changes and a reduction in power with the V8 engines. We have been able to concentrate more on grip, speed and consistency as the tyres now have a reduced lifespan of approx 150km as opposed to 350km last year.

"We have achieved some very positive results with our construction development programme and as a result we have been able to return to softer compounds.

"Looking more specifically at the Bahrain race all our teams have benefited from Ferrari running at the track during the winter, giving us more realistic feedback on our development.

"The Sakhir circuit is a medium downforce track with long straights, several tight corners and a relatively smooth surface. It is a demanding circuit and the drivers will need to be careful how they use their tyres in the new qualifying format.

"In addition, the Bahrain GP has moved to the front of the calendar which means that although we may have slightly cooler temperatures than in previous years, we could still face track temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius.

"It is going to be a challenging race but we are confident our teams will be competitive."