Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix 2023 preview
After a long winter break, the Formula One World Championship kicks off this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit. The [2023 season will not feature many new car designs after last season's complete makeover, but there will be a new race in Las Vegas (one of three U.S. races this season), bringing the calendar to 23 races this year. Also returning this season will be three new drivers and one veteran. [they are McLaren's Oscar Piatri, Alfatauri's Nyk de Vries, and Williams' Logan Sargent. Nico Hulkenberg also returns to F1 as a Haas driver. Also of note is Fernando Alonso driving for Aston Martin for the first time. Alonso will drive with Lance Stroll, but Stroll missed the recent test session due to a wrist injury. Ferrari and Williams also have new team bosses Fred Vasseur and James Bowles, respectively.
All eyes will be on world champion Max Verstappen, who will once again be driving for Red Bull Racing and looking for his third title. Mercedes-Benz AMG's Lewis Hamilton will also be back looking for his eighth title, the most in history.
The Bahrain GP replaced the Australian GP as the traditional season opener. The Bahrain International Circuit, located on a former camel ranch in the desert region of Sakhir, was the site of this year's preseason testing, and the drivers are familiar with the latest track conditions.
The 3.36-mile track is one of the most abrasive on the calendar. It is a mix of fast straights and hairpins that require heavy braking. Turn 10 is one of the trickiest corners, tightening from the entrance to the apex of the long compound corner. Drivers begin to brake while going through the wide corner arc of Turn 9. All of these factors lighten the left front tire and increase the risk of lock-up.
Engine performance, traction during corner exits, and stability during braking are the technical challenges here. In addition, tire degradation also plays an important role due to the high level of wear on the road surface.
Pirelli has named the hardest tire compounds for this race: white hard for C1, yellow medium for C2, and red soft for C3. According to Pirelli, it is based on last year's C2 compound and is intended to close the performance gap between the harder compounds.
Weather conditions are expected to be mild for both Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race, with peak temperatures around 83 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. The changing winds could blow sand in from the surrounding desert, which could affect grip levels, but a sticky substance has been sprayed on the surrounding sand to minimize this.
Teams must also be aware of the rapidly changing track surface temperatures. With the race starting at 6 p.m. local time, track temperatures will be warmest at the start and cooler as the race progresses. Last year's winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix was Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari.
