The Bahrain GP preview

If not exactly brought to a shuddering halt, the Brawn GP bandwagon at least slowed enough in the Chinese Grand Prix to allow Red Bull Racing to charge to a maiden victory.

The big question is, can the Milton Keynes-based team be expected to challenge for a second win in the space of a week at a circuit more likely to be sand-hit than rainswept?

Free practice kicks off on Friday a mere five days after Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber stood on the top two steps of the podium at Shanghai, but that doesn't mean there's no time for additional car tweaks to be jetted in - perhaps, as was the case for the Saturday of the Chinese Grand Prix, aboard Flavio Briatore's private jet!

This year's rule changes, not to mention last week's diffuser ruling, mean that the pace of development is frenzied. With so many unknowns, even in the fourth race of the season the competitive order has yet to establish itself fully.

But while Red Bull and Brawn, not to mention the Toyotas and Nico Rosberg's Williams, all have realistic ambitions of winning in Bahrain, the rest are still struggling. Renault and McLaren took a step forward in China, with Alonso making the front row on a low fuel load and Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton earning a tidy points haul, while Ferrari continued their desultory start to the season with another blank. That Kimi Raikkonen's 10th place hauled them ahead of Force India in the constructors' championship will have been little consolation!

The Bahrain Grand Prix is the conclusion to the first part of the season. The likes of Brawn, Toyota and Red Bull, who have scored just over 75 per cent of the points on offer in the first three races, will hope that it's the opening chapter. As for the rest, they can only pray that it's more of a prelude to what's to come.

Talking points

Felipe Massa's Ferrari is returned to the paddock during the Chinese Grand Prix © XPB

1. Can Ferrari avoid its worst ever start?
After Felipe Massa was forced out by an electrical failure and Kimi Raikkonen battled his way to 10th in China after being lumbered with a tyre-killing one-stop strategy, Ferrari has had its worst start to an F1 season since 1981.

If the pair don't muster more than a point between them in Bahrain, it will stand as the Scuderia's worst start to a world championship campaign. In the last race before the first iteration of its double-decker diffuser is introduced, hopes may lie with Bahrain specialist Felipe Massa, winner there in both 2007 and 2008. The car is fast enough to fight for a top six finish, but things have a habit of going wrong at Ferrari this year.

2. Does Red Bull have the dry weather pace?
Fuel-corrected, the Brawns were faster than the Red Bulls in Q3 in China. But in Q2, when everyone should have been on low fuel, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were faster. There's enough evidence to suggest that Red Bull might have a shot in dry conditions, although most expect, given a dry race, that the Brawns are favourite again.

3. Who will use KERS?
The KERS cars count was down to three in China - two McLarens and Nick Heidfeld's BMW - with both Renault and Ferrari "resting" their regenerative systems. Felipe Massa has called for Ferrari to bring it back, but it's still a very close call. The overall performance benefit? Potentially three-tenths a lap. The disadvantage in terms of set-up, weight distribution and tyre wear over a stint? Depends who you are. But expect whoever uses it to start like a rocket.

4. Drivers feeling the pressure?
It's still too early for the silly season, but there are a few drivers who will be looking over their shoulders after disappointing starts to the season. Renault boss Flavio Briatore wasn't complimentary about Nelson Piquet's performance in China, and reserve driver Romain Grosjean is waiting conspicuously in the wings.

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais, too, has been overshadowed by rookie Sebastien Buemi, despite showing prodigious pace on occasions in the opening three races.

Down at Force India, Giancarlo Fisichella needs to put his experience to good use and emulate Adrian Sutil, who has had a sniff of points twice this year already.

5. Can Williams capitalise?
The Williams-Toyota has been quick all season, yet the team languishes eighth in the constructors' championship with just 3.5 points. It's a car that was quick enough to lead the first stint of the Malaysian Grand Prix courtesy of Nico Rosberg's incredible start, but of the so-called diffuser gang teams, Williams has failed to capitalise on its speed.

In Bahrain in 2006, Rosberg claimed a points finish on debut and set fastest lap, so he's got form here, and a decent points haul is just what's needed to kickstart the team's season.

Key factors

Timo Glock during winter testing in Bahrain © XPB

1. Will the Bahrain testers have an advantage?
Toyota, Ferrari and BMW-Sauber have all tested in Bahrain in the build-up to the season, citing it as a more cost-effective destination because of favourable weather conditions (when the track isn't swallowed by a sandstorm, that is). The other seven teams haven't been there since last year's grand prix. With Friday running at a premium because of the eight engines per season per driver rule, those three outfits could have a slight edge.

2. Who will have made improvements?
McLaren and Force India will have improved diffusers in Bahrain, as will Renault. But they aren't the only ones hoping to have some tweaks ready to be brought online. The question is, who will have them ready for Friday practice and how much engine life are they willing to use up track-proving them?

3. A gripping circuit?
It usually takes a while for the Sakhir circuit to rubber in, a process not helped by the track getting doused in sand every day. If it's windy, which it can be in Bahrain, this will not only make the conditions variable, but also offers a threat to car stability on track. It could also mean those with new parts will be chasing a moving target in terms of the grip available.

Strategy

Traditionally, Bahrain is a two-stop race, but with the rain in China preventing some of the questions surrounding the durability of the super-soft option tyres being answered, we could see some very short stints. Expect some teams to save the option tyre for last, and possibly a top 10 distorted by those planning to get the super-softs out of the way with a brief first stint.

Event history

Work on the Sakhir circuit kicked off in 2002 and the track was ready to host the event hailed as the best-organised race of the season by an FIA award. Michael Schumacher won that first visit in 2004 as he continued to dominate the early stages of the season, but since then it has been the domain of two drivers - Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. The Spaniard won in 2005 and 2006, with Massa proving unbeatable for Ferrari in the past two races.

The race has occupied third slot on the calendar for five of its six runnings, with the exception of 2006 when it opened the season when the Australian Grand Prix had to steer clear of a clash with the Olympic Games.

Nico Rosberg announced his arrival as an F1 driver in 2006 with fastest lap, while Pedro de la Rosa, subbing for Juan Pablo Montoya at Mclaren in 2005, put in an exciting display on his way to fifth and fastest lap.