Is the outer layout of the Bahrain circuit too dangerous?

Short, intense, and nervous: the outer track of the Bahrain International Circuit certainly is. Several pilots, however, believe that this track configuration is dangerous because of its length and its winding portion in the middle, which contains blind turns. 

We could see during the qualifying session of Formula 2 that a collision can quickly happen, when Mick Schumacher and Roy Nissany touched each other because of the impatience of the future driver Haas. 

The young German then tried to get back into the peloton to best prepare for his last flying lap and improve his modest grid position. Should we expect similar incidents this evening, particularly in Q1 with 20 Grand Prix cars gathered over just 3,543 km?

« It's not just the middle sector that's complicated, said Sebastian Vettel after a complicated opening day for Ferrari. The track is short so I expect traffic jams in Q1. The worst factor in all of this is probably the need to have a very slow launch lap to avoid overheating the tires.

So, you will have to monitor the traffic but also the speed differences because it will be a mess. I hope everything goes well and we don't embarrass each other but there isn't room for everyone! ».

Carlos Sainz, for his part, confided that the riders would address the subject during the traditional Drivers Briefing on Friday evening 

« We are all trying to be reasonable and adopt the safest behavior but this track presents a traffic management challenge, explained the pilot McLaren Friday night. We do have some ideas that we will submit to the FIA ​​to facilitate passage through the sector 2 chicane. We must find a solution because we are flirting with danger. ».

• Divide the board into groups?

At Alpha Tauri, Daniil Kvyat suggested for example separating the field into 2 groups, as Formula 2 does for example in Monaco. Otherwise, the session could look like “ a lottery », says the Russian. 

Yet renowned for not being shy, Max Verstappen shares the general sentiment.

« The route is so short that we constantly have the radio on to know if there are people there or not., said the pilot Red Bull. It is not ideal. 

Some passages in sector 2 are negotiated blindly, it is quite dangerous to slow down in this zone to cool the tires before a flying lap. 

It's not a good feeling but that's how it is ».

A week after an accident that could have turned into a tragedy, the F1 would be well advised to avoid further cold sweats.