The 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix Preview

The Formula One circus arrives at Bahrain for the opening race of the season. Having pounded out thousands of laps in testing, it is time to find out which teams have done their homework properly.

Analysis

With a brand new knock-out concept for qualifying, there could be an interesting grid if any of the teams get their strategies wrong. That said, with the return of tyre changes in pitstops, poor qualifying positions are unlikely to prevent the best cars from showing well, so a good race should be in prospect.

As always at the start of the season, reliability is going to play a part, especially at this hot venue, so don't be surprised if some teams are running strongly, only to discover their efforts coming to naught.

The Bahrain circuit is well thought out, with a combination of slow and fast corners that are intended to promote overtaking. High speeds and big stops at the end of the straights will stress brakes almost as much as in Canada, requiring consideration from the teams to avoid wearing them out. Unusually, whilst the problems teams face include a relatively smooth track surface, it is typically very slippery for much of the weekend due to the fine layer of sand that inevitably covers it.

High air and track temperatures will call for teams to run near maximum cooling, and the dearth of high speed corners will make this a medium downforce affair. This circuit offers few opportunities for the drivers to make much difference to laptimes, so it should be a good indicator of the relative performances of the cars themselves - and highlight any disparity between the tyre manufacturers.

Flashback

In 2005, Bahrain was the third race of the season, with Renault looking for a hat-trick. Michael Schumacher gave Ferrari fans hope when he lined up alongside Fernando Alonso on the front row in qualifying, whilst Jarno Trulli's third spot and Nick Heidfeld's forth showed some potential for Toyota and Williams.

In the event, the defending World Champion discovered his Bridgestone tyres were no match for Michelin's rubber at this circuit, despite hounding Alonso in the early laps. Schumacher retired ten laps in with hydraulic pressure problems, but his tyres were already looking worn, an ill omen that accurately predicted Rubens Barrichello's predicament and slide down the field - a temperamental gearbox had already robbed him of decent practice or qualifying, so this topped his weekend off admirably.

Reliability issues were endemic, with an electronic problem preventing Christian Klien (Red Bull) from starting his car on the grid; engine failures for Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Heidfeld and Jenson Button (Honda); and brake failure for Takuma Sato took the second BAR out of the race. David Coulthard also effectively ended Jacques Villeneuve's race for Sauber after damaging his rear suspension in a collision.

In the event, Alonso won comfortably ahead of Trulli and Raikkonen, a full lap ahead of Barrichello.

Pos  Driver        Team                  Time
 1.  Alonso        Renault          (M)  1h29.18.531
 2.  Trulli        Toyota           (M)  +    13.409
 3.  Raikkonen     McLaren-Mercedes (M)  +    32.063
 4.  R.Schumacher  Toyota           (M)  +    53.272
 5.  de la Rosa    McLaren-Mercedes (M)  +  1:04.988
 6.  Webber        Williams-BMW     (M)  +  1:14.701
 7.  Massa         Sauber-Petronas  (M)  +     1 lap
 8.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Cosworth(M)  +     1 lap

Fastest lap: de la Rosa, 1:31.447

Weather

Temperatures are expected to be cooler than last year, running from 22°C and 28°C, but still basically hot, so effective cooling is going to be a requirement for all teams. Although there is almost no danger of precipitation, dust carried by moderate winds could cause some interesting problems, whether from directly impacting grip, or being sucked into the inner workings of the engines.

Tyres

With the return of tyre changes during pitstops and input from Williams and Toyota adding to Ferrari's efforts, there is little doubt that Bridgestone is expected to improve its form over the coming season. However, that may take some time. Judging by performances in testing, whilst they are capable of a respectable turn of speed, the Bridgestone runners do not generally appear to have the pace of the leading Michelin teams.

With the track surface likely to come close to 40°C, this will be a good early indicator of the tyre companies' relative performance at high temperatures.

Strategy

With tyre changes back in the mix, three stops would be the obvious strategy if the teams were working with three-litre V10 engines and the qualifying rules from 2004; however, running the new 2.4 litre V8 units offers somewhat better fuel economy. Some teams may opt for three stops, looking for advantage in the pitstops or to protect marginal brakes, but a more conservative two-stop approach seems as likely.

Whilst the new qualifying format will present little challenge to the front running teams, it is also likely to see midfield outfits running with unusual fuel loads in an attempt to maximise their race advantage: drivers who are expecting to line up on the sixth row and down have nothing to lose by running low on fuel, whilst those who get their maths wrong - or lap unexpectedly quickly on their hot lap - will discover they burn off substantially more fuel in the final session than is replaced. And of course, with reliability always questionable at the opening event, anyone who struggles to get out of the pits at the start of qualifying will find they are unable to make the cut and line up at the back of the grid.

Conclusions

Through the off-season, Renault and Honda have pounded out considerable test miles, proving they are both reliable and fast: expect them to both be represented on the podium, with Renault perhaps showing a slight edge - but Honda have a genuine shot at claiming their first win.

McLaren have been getting impressively quick in their final tests; whilst they can never be written off from winning, just finishing on the podium is more realistic. Ferrari are expected to lead the charge for the Bridgestone runners - they should be far more competitive than last year, but a return to winning ways seems unlikely just yet.

For fans of the unexpected, a solid qualifying from Red Bull could upset the grid, but their reliability issues will make getting to the finish intact, without sacrificing power, something of a miracle.

A lap of Sakhir with Juan Pablo Montoya

We begin on the long start-finish straight, which is just over one kilometre and were we reach the highest speeds on the circuit, up to 320km/h in seventh gear before braking hard for the slow tight right of turn one dropping down to first gear and 80km/h.

A short burst of power takes you to the left hander of turn two, which is taken at 120km/h in second gear, keeping on the power through the turn.

The slight right of turn three, taken at 190km/h sees speeds gradually increasing as you go up to third gear. This then flicks you onto the second and shortest of the four straights. We power along here in sixth gear before dropping down to second gear and 105km/h for the tight right of turn four.

The sweeping left-right-left of turns five, six and seven follow; this is very quick sequence reaching 200km/h at turn six and sees us pull 3.2G the highest of the circuit.

We then pick up speed on the exit for the short run down to the hairpin of turn eight which is taken in second gear at 90km/h. Another quick burst takes you to the two left-handers of nine and ten, which will start off quite fast and then see us slow to second gear and 80km/h for ten.

This then swings you round onto the third main straight that runs parallel to the start-finish straight. This sees another chance to really pick up speed and we reach 300km/h before braking for the long left double-apex of eleven. It is important to maintain our speed through here, as it leads onto another long and fast sweeping section of the track.

The open curving right of twelve, which sees speeds of around 215km/h in fourth, is followed by a sharper right turn, taken in third at 170km/h, this then flicks you onto the back straight. Powering up through the gears you reach 320km/h before breaking hard into second gear, 95km/h for the final right hander, which takes you back onto the long start-finish straight to start another lap.

Team by Team

Renault

After a very positive off-season, where the team have again put together a very competitive car on a tighter budget than most of their main rivals, the Renault outfit are riding high. Returning as reigning world champions, their new car is quick and reliable, so it should offer the capacity to fight for a winning start.

Although they see their main rivals as Honda and McLaren, they are wary of the Ferrari challenge too: should Bridgestone have garnered enough information from the off-season tests here to steal an advantage, then they will also be right up at the front.

Even at the start of the season, Renault are working hard to maintain progress with the car, and will be using a revised aerodynamic package for this weekend; in attempting to evolve the car at every event this year, pressure is being put on their rivals right from the outset. This will be no half-hearted defence of the championship.

Drivers: After a disappointing race in 2005, where engine failure saw him retire early on, Giancarlo Fisichella is looking for a change of fortunes as he assays the tasks of starting another year with a win. Well motivated, and secure in the knowledge that Alonso's pending departure will keep the team behind him, he is in a strong psychological position for the opening weekend.

Alonso, meanwhile, is the reigning world champion and defending his win at this circuit last year. Despite concerns over the pace of the other three front runners, he has to be considered favourite to win again this year.

Objectives: Win.

McLaren Mercedes

Kimi Raikkonen testing the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 at Valencia © XPB/LAT

A slow start to last season left Renault with too much of an advantage for McLaren to close the gap; that said, they clearly demonstrated they were back on the pace, and carried tremendous momentum into the off-season.

Considering early testing with the new car saw the team blowing up their Mercedes engines with alarming regularity - and still complaining they were 70bhp down on power - an early focus on reliability appears to have allowed the development programme to iron out the problems with enough time to resolve the power issues, and deliver a surprisingly quick and robust package for the first event of the season.

Despite struggling for mileage in the earlier tests, since getting launching the new car and installing an updated engine, McLaren put considerable mileage on their cars, illustrating their improved reliability, before posting laptimes that compare favourably with Honda and Renault. Heading to the season opener, they should have the pace to challenge at the front, though a podium finish seems more likely than the win.

Drivers: After finishing strongly in 2005, Kimi Raikkonen is looking for a good start to the year - provided the car can run the full distance without tuning down the engine. He cannot be discounted, and will punish mistakes from any drivers ahead of him.

Juan Pablo Montoya has now clearly settled into the team: whilst he has developed a reputation for being less reliable that his Finnish teammate, he is as quick and will be no less a threat at the front.

Objectives: Podium finish - with both cars completing the distance.

Ferrari

In recent years, Ferrari have been starting seasons with their challenger from the previous year, whilst they finish their new car and make it bullet-proof before introduction. With the change to a V8 engine, the fundamental shift in philosophy has made this approach unrealistic, so the team introduced their car early.

From conception, the new car has actually looked quite quick - though they have been struggling with reliability problems, these have largely been resolved. Probably the weakest link remains the tyres. Work with Bridgestone to improve performance has been persistent, with assistance from Williams and Toyota no hindrance, but the fantastic reliability exhibited by Renault and Honda means that Michelin has been able to pound out test laps.

In Bahrain, Ferrari should be able to spend time running with the front runners, either in qualifying or the race, but over a full race distance they are expected to be off the pace of Renault and Honda this weekend.

Drivers: Michael Schumacher endured a tough season in 2005, but still finished third overall - perfect illustration that he can never be written off. With Ferrari showing better form this year, he could well put the car on the podium. Furthermore, with Ferrari's strategic and tactical acumen, it is entirely possible they could pull a coup with the revised format, and steal more places.

Although Felipe Massa has a reputation for speed, and has shown it on occasion in testing, being quicker than Michael Schumacher at Ferrari is arguably more than he can reasonably hope for from this weekend: but if he doesn't overdrive, he might well put on an impressive display in qualifying.

Objectives: A podium finish, with both cars in the points.

Toyota

Ralf Schumacher testing the Toyota TF106 © XPB/LAT

With their revised aerodynamic package apparently showing well in the final tests of the season, Toyota are expected to lift their game, compared against their earlier testing pace. Quite where that puts them is still subject for conjecture, but over the full distance, they should be close to Ferrari, roughly on a par with Williams.

Although there were gremlins in early testing, the car has completed a considerable number of miles and with the performance gains from the revised aero package, it should be an good midfield runner, whilst the team continue to build their experience with Bridgestone tyres and works on readying a B-spec of the chassis ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Drivers: Jarno Trulli's qualifying prowess is likely to be less obvious this year, as drivers will have more than a single hot lap to set their times. Accordingly, the sparkling performances from last year are unlikely, so his results should be more in line with the race pace of his package. That said, he has often shown excellent form on race day, so solid results are still possible: a repeat of last year's podium is unlikely, but he will be disappointed not to score points.

Ralf Schumacher's luck in Bahrain was not so hot last year: he finished thirty seconds behind his teammate and never looked like matching him for pace. His reputation for blowing hot and cold is unlikely to change unless he can do something about that from the outset of the season.

Objectives: Run strongly and finish with both cars in the points.

Williams Cosworth

With their V8 Cosworth engine already making a good name along the pitlane, Williams are now looking to make the most of their package to score some early points. Now running on Bridgestone rubber, the team can be expected to choose between optimising their speed in qualifying or the race - with the former being required if they will otherwise struggle to make the cut in qualifying.

Having eliminated the gremlins, they are running with their seamless shift gearbox; the advantage is not huge, but it will offer perhaps a couple of tenths on the lap. The key to this race will be the performance of the Cosworth engine, which should let them run relatively more downforce than their midfield competition.

Drivers: Mark Webber was outpaced by teammate Nick Heidfeld in qualifying last year, then struggled to make an impression through the race, before finishing sixth. Given the strength of the competition this year, he should consider himself lucky to claim the same result. His input will be important for getting Nico Rosberg up to speed.

In his first Grand Prix, Rosberg will be in the spotlight as the paddock looks to see if he can make a seamless transition: any mistakes will be scrutinised and used as evidence that he doesn't live up to his father's reputation. On the other hand, a solid first showing would go a long way to taking the pressure off for the remainder of the season.

Objectives: Finish well - score points.

Honda

Having ensured a troubled start last year with poor pace, poorer reliability and being banned for a couple of races for bending the rules too far, the team are looking to repeat their form from the year before, where they were usually the only outfit that came close to challenging the dominant Ferraris.

Jenson Button tests the Honda RA106 at Bahrain © LAT

Working hard on their new challenger and strengthening their driver line-up by signing the experienced Rubens Barrichello from Ferrari, the coming season will probably be make or break, as they have to justify Honda's increased expense by delivering a race win.

After showing excellent form in winter testing - which included a session in Bahrain - Honda are going to Bahrain with high hopes of doing just that. Whilst Renault are probably favourites to top the podium, this team also appear to have the outright pace to challenge them.

Drivers: Anthony Davidson's return as third driver will give Honda an experienced and trusted hand for their Friday testing, letting their main drivers avoid putting mileage on the engines.

Barrichello, with the relative freedom of lowered expectations from the team as he finishes settling in, has shown in testing that his pace is very close to his teammate, so it would be little surprise to see him a little quicker on occasion through the weekend. The team approach should see free interflow of ideas and information between the two, though. He will be looking to make a solid impression on his first outing with the team, so a very motivated weekend should be in store.

Jenson Button took on the mantle of team leader when racing with Takuma Sato as his teammate, but despite stepping up his game and driving relatively well, last season he failed to make much of an impression against Renault or McLaren. In Bahrain, effectively restored to a level pegging with Barrichello, he has one less thing to worry about, but needs to make the most of the advantage of his familiarity with the car and team to stay ahead of the Brazilian.

Objectives: Win.

Red Bull Racing Ferrari

After surprising onlookers with a reasonable turn of speed last season, regularly scoring points, expectations at Red Bull are even higher for the coming season - which could be unfortunate, as the competition is undoubtedly tougher, and they are not well prepared.

To date, Red Bull is still to complete a race distance as overheating issues have seriously handicapped their running. They appear to be in good shape otherwise: the Ferrari engine is respectable, the overall package is efficient and they have clearly been able to work hard on getting quick over short runs.

This weekend is going to be an important milestone for the new car. They might have a repeat display from their history in their Stewart incarnation, with both engines expiring on the starting grid, or perhaps both cars will make it to the finish, in which case they would probably upset a number of teams that currently consider Red Bull a limited threat.

Drivers: David Coulthard has relished his role in this team - he has got on with enjoying his racing, whilst bringing on his young teammate. Critics and fans alike saw him bring home points regularly last year. With Ferrari power, he'll be hoping for some opportunities to repeat that experience this season, too. That said, Bahrain will be a challenge, just getting the car to the finish, so expectations are low.

Christian Klien has matured considerably over the last couple of seasons; his improved pace means that he should be capable of outqualifying Coulthard fairly regularly, but he does not have the consistency of his experienced teammate through the race. Through the course of the year, he will be aiming to improve on that score, but the main focus for Bahrain will be making the finish - mileage is key.

Objectives: Get the cars to the finish. Sneaking into the points if possible.

BMW Sauber

Robert Kubica tests the BMW-Sauber F1.06 at Imola © LAT

Having taken on their own project, BMW are not looking to get too much from Bahrain, besides ensuring their cars make the finish: there is little to be gained from pushing too hard too soon, and losing out on valuable racing miles with the new car.

Then again, they are not expecting to be running at the back of the grid. The car is powered by an engine that needs to perform ahead of the V10 Cosworth, whilst the chassis is designed by a Sauber team who have historically punched well above their budget. And with 10,000 miles completed in testing, the car should not be fragile either.

Drivers: Third driver Robert Kubica is expected to work hard on Friday to get through the BMW-Sauber tyre program; despite pushing back the need for selecting to Saturday, keeping the mileage low for the racing drivers is important, particularly in the heat.

Heidfeld's signing from Williams may have disappointed the Grove outfit, but BMW are looking forward to seeing the German run. His performance in 2005 was strong, so a repeat would be welcome.

After struggling to match Massa in the early part of last season, Jacques Villeneuve is clearly looking to make a more assured showing this year: his early priority has to be making the most of the car, which better suits his style, to match or exceed the pace of Heidfeld. It should be an interesting weekend for this pair.

Objectives: A good midfield performance - with points scored if the leaders are unreliable.

Midland Toyota

From the remnants of Jordan, the first all-Russian car has been born, though Midland are hardly expected to make much of an impression this year, either. They are running a decent enough engine with a customer Toyota V8, so straight line performance should be reasonable, but the outfit simply haven't the facilities to put together a competitive package.

Whilst ramping up development capability, this year is all about working to build credibility. Accordingly, they will be aiming to present a professional image each weekend and get the most out of the package: whilst not contenders, they aim to be, so getting into the right mindset now is important.

The cars have seen very limited running, particularly the revised aerodynamic package, so reliability is likely to be a problem. Spending time on track to iron out issues will be vital for their season.

Drivers: After finishing 18 of 19 races last year (and one on the podium), Tiago Monteiro will struggle to get close to his previous record - a consistent performer, if not electric, he is ideal for a team that need someone who will look after his equipment and get to the finish.

Christijan Albers, on the other hand, has made the small step up to Midland from Minardi: again, he is expecting to run at the back of the field, and again, he will struggle to make a mark. Beating Monteiro would be a good start, however.

Objectives: Get the cars to the finish.

Toro Rosso Cosworth

Scott Speed tests the Scuderia Toro Rosso STR1-Cosworth at Jerez © LAT

The Red Bull junior outfit may have been put together from pieces of the Minardi team, spliced with Red Bull cast-offs and work with a limited V10 engine, but they are intent on getting off to a solid start, and proving that they can avoid being backmarkers all weekend. With Super Aguri expected to struggle, Toro Rosso will be aiming to give Midland a run for their money and finish ahead of them.

Although the V10 engines are limited to ensure they are not 'competitive', Cosworth appears to have done a solid job with this solution, so they will not exactly start the season poorly: limited in-season development means that getting results early is important.

To which end, restricting the performance has the tremendous benefit of improving the reliability of the engines, so the team should start the season with great finishing potential, at a time when their main rivals will probably be struggling to complete the full distance. Two solid races are in prospect, though points are not too likely.

Drivers: Vitantonio Liuzzi made a brief showing for Red Bull last year, but Christian Klien managed to prevent him spending more time racing by putting on an impressive performance to retain his seat. Nevertheless, Liuzzi showed well enough to guarantee a seat this year. Whilst inexperienced, working alongside David Coulthard for a year has helped to develop him, and his limited experience will be important.

Teammate Scott Speed has a solid reputation, and managed some excellent drives in GP2. As the first American in F1 for 13 years, there will be plenty of attention, which will make things tough: Liuzzi is quick, and already has race experience at this level.

Objectives: Get both cars to the finish, beating Midland.

Super Aguri Honda

Having just shaken down their 2006 aerodynamic package, the team are set to put their first major miles on the car in its current configuration, so they can be expected to spend the weekend chasing set-ups.

At this stage, the most important thing is getting on top of the package and getting racing miles. They are not expected to be competitive, so the race may turn into an extended test as the drivers will have little to lose by heading into the pits for setting adjustments. That said, a genuine race distance would be a great way to start the season.

Drivers: Takuma Sato had a miserable race in 2005, as his engine gave up, so he is looking forward to a chance of finishing the race this year. Yuji Ide is a big unknown, but how he stacks up to Sato will make or break his reputation, once the season gets going.

That said, for the first couple of races, he will be expected to have his attention on his mirrors, or there will be complaints along the pitlane.

Objectives: finish the race.