Sakhir (dpa) – 98 days after the memorable finale in Abu Dhabi, the Formula 1 drivers are again fighting for points. A rule revolution should make the motorsport premier class more balanced and exciting.
Will Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher benefit from the first Grand Prix on Sunday (4:00 p.m. CET/Sky) in Bahrain?
Do you still recognize Formula 1?
Much is new after the radical cure. The front wings have been simplified, the rear wings are curved and the sidepods have been revised. All in all, the aerodynamic revolution should ensure that the gap between the leaders and the last shrinks. Formula 1 wants to be more exciting. After the controversial Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi, a new race control was also installed. This has yet to be implemented. Then the tires are also new: Instead of the balloon-like 13-inch tires, 18-inch tires are used. In Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo even got a Chinese driver for the first time in Formula 1.
Will the World Cup be decided between Verstappen and Hamilton?
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) fought a breathless world championship duel last season leading up to the memorable finale in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen actually only snagged his first title on the last lap – for Hamilton it would have been record championship number eight. “I still feel like I’m relatively high up,” said the 37-year-old Hamilton. The 24-year-old Verstappen wants to shape his own World Cup era. But there can be surprises. Charles Leclerc, for example, completed tough tests in the Ferrari. However, these test drives are only of limited value because the teams do not yet want to show their full potential.
What to expect from the German pilots?
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In Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Mick Schumacher (Haas) there are two regular German drivers. Vettel is the experienced four-time world champion who wants to make the step to a top team with the English works team. Ideally, the 34-year-old could be on the podium and maybe even win this season. The tests in Bahrain initially did not support this hope. Schumacher is the inexperienced 22-time Grand Prix participant who wants to score his first points in motorsport’s premier class. Thanks to the Ferrari engine, his US racing team is considered a possible surprise team.
How do you rate the route?
The drivers know the Bahrain International Circuit very well. Until a few days ago, they were still completing the official test drives in the rocky desert of Sakhir. The floodlit course, which is around 30 kilometers from the capital Manama, has been part of the racing calendar since 2004 and will remain an integral part until 2036. The 5.412-kilometre track is varied: there are long straights, and there is a high proportion of full throttle. The dry heat and the rough sand that blows onto the track are challenges.