Bahrain Grand-Prix facts and stats 13.04.2017: FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2017 Sakhir International Circuit

FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2017
Sakhir International Circuit



Local Facts



Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands. The largest is 55km long by 18km wide.



The Bahrain World Trade Centre was the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design. Each turbine is 29m in diameter with a capacity of 675kw via wind power production.



The highest point of Bahrain is only 122 meters above sea level and is called Jabal ad Dukhan or The Mountain of Smoke.



In Arabic, Bahrain is the dual form of bahr (sea), so al-Bahrayn means ‘the two seas’, attributed to the sweet water springs and sea that surrounds the island.al Garden of Eden.





Track notes


The Bahrain Grand Prix, which takes place at the Sakhir track in the desert south of the capital Manama, has become a modern classic. The circuit often produces a thriller of a race due to the multiple overtaking opportunities afforded by its long straights and tight corners.



 The race takes place around dusk and finishes under lights, giving extra variables as the temperature rapidly falls from searing hot to pleasantly cool.




T1

The pit straight is 1km long but the heavy braking for turn 1 means a good overtaking opportunity. No penalties for overshooting the corner so over-optimism is not unduly curtailed. The exit of this corner calls for driver delicacy on the throttle when tyres are worn.




T2

The more kerb you can take at turn 2, the more speed you can take down the straight that follows.



T4

Turn 4 is another overtaking opportunity, with heavy braking from the 520m straight before and a wide entry and space on exit.




T6

Front wing is set to balance the car through turns 6 and 7.




T10

The entry to turn ten is difficult. You need to be in the correct track position after turn nine and the unweighted inside wheel can easily lock up. Sufficient speed needs to be carried through turn nine for the entry, but it’s easy to outbrake yourself here. There is a long serrated kerb at the exit to turn ten which is best avoided.




T13

Another 520m burst between turns 10 and 11 and 600m from turns 13 to 14 really taxes the power unit.




T14

Alongside turn 1, the exit of turn 14 is one of the most difficult turns, but it must be completely correct. The exit falls slightly off camber as it enters turn 15, but the driver has to get the line right as it is followed by the 1km pit straight.




Power Unit notes



•    Sakhir sits in the middle of the table for power unit demands. The circuit includes four straights and the ICE and turbocharger will work at full revs for around 61% of the lap.



•    Bahrain’s arid climate can have severe consequences for the ICE. Pressure inside the cylinder rises and knock can be a real problem. Ignition timing is therefore very tightly controlled and checked to prevent issues developing.



•    The corners of the back section from turns 4 to 8 and 11 to 13 have several heavy braking points. Around 29% of the energy recovered under braking comes from turns 1 and 4, which will allow the MGU-K to keep the battery reserve at high charge. This is very important since the MGU-K will also be required to feed the ICE on those four long straights.



•    The long straights give a steady stream of exhaust flow to the MGU-H. This is particularly important since fuel consumption over one lap is extremely high due to the frequency of heavy braking and acceleration. Sakhir has in fact the second highest fuel consumption per lap after Montreal.



•    The straights give plenty of opportunity for the MGU-H to recover energy from the exhaust, but it’s crucial for it to convert quickly to the ‘motor’ function to give good drive out of the slow speed corners. A smooth, neutral PU set up will show up in the lap time.



•    The braking points at the end of the straights call for particular engine maps. Coming after a long period of wide open throttle, the braking phase is a lot heavier and cylinders are cut for longer. As a result their temperatures drop and getting them firing again correctly is incredibly important.





Tyres

The same selection deployed in Shanghai has to contend with very different track and air temperatures relative to those seen in China. As well as the heat, sand blown on to the track can also provide an abrasive smart to the compounds on offer. Pirelli’s wet tyre range is unlikely to make an appearance in Bahrain.



Medium (white)

The camel of Pirelli’s tyre range, capable of covering long distances with a surprising turn of pace.



Soft (yellow)

Like the sand of the desert, the yellow branded Soft compound is likely to be seen frequently in Bahrain. It makes an appearance at every race in 2017.



Supersoft (red)

The hawk of the range, capable of rapid bursts of speed but without the staying power of its more durable brethren.




- Renault Sport F1  also photo ESPN