2017 F1 Preview; Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir

Just a week after an action-packed and exciting race in Shanghai for the Chinese GP where Lewis Hamilton bounced back from Sebastian Vettel's victory at the Australian GP to become joint with him on points in the Driver's Championship; we now head to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir this weekend.

Also Bahrain is also the first round of this year's inaugural FIA Formula 2 Championship, which is the new name for the GP2 Series which are also supplied by Pirelli.

The Bahrain International Circuit which is located in Sakhir in the southern part of the Kingdom of Bahrain, was purpose built for Formula 1 and is considered to be one of the safest tracks in the world thanks to the giant run-off areas.

The track's width and layout also encourages safe overtaking. The track is 5.41 kilometers long, the race consisting of 57 laps, giving a total distance of 308.24 kilometers. It is a curvy circuit with lots of kinks and gradient changes that are quite large in some areas. Braking late at the end of a long straight into the right-handed hairpin turn 4 might provide the best overtaking opportunity. Also, turn 1 after the start/finish straight is a great overtaking point.

At the Bahrain GP this weekend, the teams and the drivers will be using the same three compounds selected for China with F1's first back to back races of the 2017 season. It is also the first night race of the year, starting and finishing in the evening under the floodlights.

As a result, the pattern of tyre behaviour and track evolution isn't exactly the same as it would be during a conventional afternoon race. Last year, the winning strategy was a three-stopper, with the same three compounds nominated as this year.

Pirelli do know the Sakhir circuit well as it is favoured year-round test venue for different series. The Pirelli tyres it would seem suffer with rear-limited, due to traction demands. But as we saw last year, tyre tactics can be varied in a race as there were nine different strategies in the top 10 last year. But with the track surface being granite but not very abrasive; thermal degradation is a bigger factor. As a result of this, the track then falls in temperature in each session meaning that the surface tends to get faster.

Overall, the Bahrain circuit has one of the most unique surroundings on the Formula One calendar due to its location in the middle of a desert. Sand on the circuit can result in loss of grip in the turns and additional thermal problems, if it gets into the car.

The engines air filters are thoroughly checked and more often changed than usual to avoid the intrusion of sand particles. Rumours says that organizers are trying to keep the sand away by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track. Surprisingly the gravel used for building the race track was imported all the way from Wales.

The 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix, won by Michael Schumacher for Ferrari just 1.3 seconds ahead of his Brazilian team-mate Rubens Barrichello, made history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East.

Drinking alcohol is not banned in Bahrain, but in deference to the Bahrain's Islamic rulers, winners of the Bahrain Grand Prix do not get to spray champagne on the podium. Instead the race organisers provide the drivers with Waard, a local non-alcoholic beverage made from rosewater and pomegranates.

*Here's the facts and figures going into this weekend*-

Facts and Figures

• Bahrain has hosted the Grand Prix since 2004 when it was added to the calendar.
• Fernando Alonso is the most successful driver to win the Grand Prix with three wins
• Ferrari are the most successful constructor to win the Grand Prix with four wins
• Race distance: 308.23km (191.53 miles)
• Number of turns:15
• Top speed: 299kph
• Laps: 57
• Lap record: Michael Schumacher- Ferrari (2004)- 1.30.252

Last Five Winners from the Bahrain Grand Prix:-
• 2012-Sebastian Vettel
• 2013- Sebastian Vettel
• 2014- Lewis Hamilton
• 2015- Lewis Hamilton
• 2016- Nico Rosberg

Sky Sports F1 are showing uninterrupted coverage of every Practice session, Qualifying and race for the Grand Prix (and every race of the season) and Channel Four also are showing coverage, details for both are below:-

•Sky Sports F1:- Friday (Practice 1 and 2) 11.45am and 3.45pm [Replays throughout Friday], Saturday (Practice 3 and Qualifying) 12.45pm and 3pm [Replays throughout Saturday], Sunday (Race) 2.30pm

• Channel Four :- Friday (Practice 1 and 2) 11.55am and 3.55pm Saturday (Practice 3 and Qualifying) 12.55pm and 2.55pm, Sunday (Race) 2.50pm

Driving For Pleasure will be covering the Bahrain GP weekend with Practice, Qualifying and Race reports as well as the latest news.

Sarah Jones- @jonesy_laaa