Bahrain on pole and proud of it...

They are gigantic, flashy and couldn't be clearer... They are the advertising panels that dot Manama, the capital of Bahrain, as well as the immense highway that leads to the Sakhir circuit. On each of them, a single slogan is hammered “Race Number One”!

Published on 10/03/2010 à 00:36

⁰ View comments)

Bahrain fought hard to obtain a second time the privilege of opening the season of F1. In 2006, Australia ceded this coveted place to the small Gulf Kingdom due to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. This year, Bahrain, seeing itself in competition with Abu Dhabi, which is ending the season, has offered itself the additional spotlight offered to any opening round of a championship. Free ? Probably not, because with Bernie Ecclestone, everything has a price…

In any case, this strategy seems to work wonderfully, since associated with the return of Michael Schumacher, this first race of the season attracts more spectators than ever since 2004.

In one of the many points of sale in Manama, a seller rubs his hands: “In my small shop alone, I sell an average of 100 tickets for the race every day! Never seen ! ". The customers only have one name on their lips: “Schumacher”! Attending the return of the German champion comes at a price, from 100 to 360 euros for the three days of events.

Michael Schumacher, the star attraction of this Bahrain Grand Prix, is also plastered in newspapers, on walls and other lampposts. His portrait, gaze stretched towards the sky and the message “He's Back” look a little kitsch, but who cares. This return was so anticipated that we got caught up in the game...