The essential points of the Bahrain Grand Prix

The Bahrain Grand Prix contested this Sunday will be the last event of the Championship before the start of the European season which will begin on May 12 with the Spanish GP. This race is certainly the most controversial on the calendar due to the tensions which have pitted Shiite demonstrators against the kingdom for more than two years now. In 2011, the race even had to be canceled.

On a sporting level, we can remember that Fernando Alonso, victorious last weekend in China, is the most successful on the Sakhir circuit with three victories (two won in 2005 and 2006 with Renault F1 and one in 2010 won with the Team). However, the Asturian did not reach the podium during the other editions, notably finishing in seventh place last year where Sebastian Vettel had scored his first success of the season. Ferrari, however, remains the most successful team in Bahrain with four victories, Michael Schumacher having won in 2004 and Felipe Massa in 2007 and 2008.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has never been won by a driver starting beyond the first two rows of the starting grid, but victory has only been achieved half the time from the driver on pole. In addition, Pirelli believes that the teams will be able to multiply strategies with his choice of gums booked for this weekend.

Among the rookies present this year, only Valtteri Bottas has already driven on the Sakhir circuit at the wheel of an F1 since the driver Williams took part in the first free practice session last year. Jules Bianchi, Giedo van der Garde, Esteban Gutiérrez and Max Chilton nevertheless know the track having covered it several times in GP2.