Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel are chasing their fifth successive constructors’ and drivers’ championships in the 19 race season that started in Australia on March 16. The following considers the prospects of the 11 teams.
l Prefixes denote numbers drivers will have on their cars.
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) has named the first corner of its track after F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who lies deeply comatose and in critical condition in hospital after a skiing accident.
APRIL 20 - CHINA
Shanghai International Circuit. 56 laps of 5.451km. Total distance 305.066km. 2013 winner: Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari. Built on a vast, almost overwhelming scale in the shape of the Chinese character ‘shang’. Has hosted Formula One since 2004.
The Bahrain International Circuit will come alive during the 2014 Formula One weekend when German heavy metal band, Scorpions, put a sting into proceedings to make up for the loss of Avicii.
Formula One will be the main attraction at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend but motoring fans are in for a treat with non-stop action supporting it at the circuit.
Jon Lancaster topped the timesheet when GP2 pre-season testing wrapped up last month at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
Pirelli, along with all the Formula One teams, tested at the Sakhir circuit twice in the build-up to the season – so this should be a circuit that everybody knows well.
Bodywork and dimensions
The size and dimensions of Formula One cars are tightly controlled by the regulations. They must be no more than 180cm wide. The length, height and shape of the car are effectively governed by other specific parameters. For example, bodywork between the front and rear wheel centre lines must not be more than 140cm wide.
MOTOR RACING’s elite drivers will be seeing the Bahrain International Circuit in a new light during the first-ever Formula One day-night race to be staged in Bahrain.
Keeping on track:
• 2.55km Inner track with a width varying between 14m - 15m (8 turns)
• 3.664km Outer track with a width varying between 14m - 17m (10 turns)
• 5.411km Grand Prix track with a width varying between 14m - 22m
• 6.4km Full Circuit with a width varying between 14m - 22m
• 1.2km Drag strip with a width of 18.5m
• 3.7km Paddock Circuit (9 turns) 14 - 22m width
Since 1996 the official Formula One safety car has been supplied by Mercedes-Benz and the current model is a 571-HP Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Since 2000 the FIA has entrusted the task of driving the safety car to Bernd Maylander, a former successful touring-car racer.
