It’s time for the speaking to cease and everybody to point out what they’ve acquired when it comes to race efficiency because the 2024 season will get underway with a Saturday night time spectacular in Sakhir. So let’s have a look at among the key issues to look out for on race day on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit…
1. Crimson Bull’s benefit (if there’s one…)
The primary day of pre-season testing noticed Max Verstappen look ominously sturdy within the new RB20, and it led to the impression that Crimson Bull would have one other clear lead over the remainder of the sector at the beginning of this yr.
READ MORE: Verstappen thrilled with ‘surprising’ pole in Bahrain however prepares for an additional ‘shut’ race-day battle
Whereas that feeling was robust to shake, there have been some hints of better-placed rivals in among the future lap occasions, however the place everybody stacked up in uncooked tempo was solely seen for the primary time in qualifying on Friday.
Charles Leclerc set the quickest time – however that was in Q2 – and Verstappen was quickest when it mattered in Q3 to take pole place. The relative efficiency, although, was higher than each Ferrari and Mercedes anticipated in comparison with Verstappen.
The chasing pack proceed to recommend Crimson Bull have an even bigger benefit in race trim and that Verstappen is the comfy favorite, however the Dutchman dismissed that notion when George Russell estimated the hole to be half a second on Friday night time.
“No, I believe it’s means too large. However in the event you say that now then it’s higher tomorrow.”
“Underneath promise and overdeliver…” got here Russell’s reply, and there stays some doubt as to how large the hole to Verstappen will probably be, if certainly one exists in any respect…
HEAD-TO-HEAD: See the place Verstappen had the sting over Leclerc in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix
2. An much more intense battle behind
If the indicators from testing and FP2 – the place Verstappen was quickest through the race simulations and had impressively low degradation as soon as once more – show to be correct, then that doesn’t imply there isn’t nonetheless loads to look ahead to amongst these combating to shut in.
Simply 0.207s lined the quickest Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren vehicles in qualifying, in a show of simply how shut these groups proceed to be. A yr in the past, solely Aston Martin seemed to be in a cushty place with their automotive, whereas the opposite three all had points to beat (and in McLaren’s case have been actually struggling).
That’s not the case this time round, with Lando Norris believing an error within the first sector price him a entrance row begin, and McLaren proper within the combine alongside a lot happier drivers at Ferrari and Mercedes.
WATCH: ‘The automotive was simply adequate for a entrance row’ – Norris laments driver errors on ultimate Q3 run
Given the actual fact Norris was sad at shedding an estimated 0.15s on his qualifying lap and slipping again three rows, that reveals simply how shut it’s set to be between the highest 5 groups, with trophies up for grabs.
And whereas intently matched vehicles can typically result in tense races, the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit has confirmed to be a format that encourages overtaking and prolonged combating, with alternatives to go and re-pass on monitor.
3. Hulkenberg hoping to carry on for Haas
The one driver exterior of Crimson Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren to make it into Q3 was really a well-recognized title primarily based on 2023, with Nico Hulkenberg as soon as once more giving Haas a spot within the prime 10.
That was a daily prevalence final season, with the German making eight appearances within the ultimate a part of qualifying. However what was additionally a daily prevalence was that spectacular beginning place quickly giving method to a troublesome slide again by the sector to complete exterior the factors.
WATCH: ‘Thrilling occasions forward’ – Hulkenberg hoping Haas have lastly made progress on future tempo
Haas have undergone a change in management over the winter with Guenther Steiner changed by Ayao Komatsu and the brand new Staff Principal is concentrating on enhancements in the way in which the automotive is developed through the yr.
The start line is about to be seen, and given the quantity of labor Haas did on excessive gasoline operating throughout testing, there’s each probability Hulkenberg might be combating for that ultimate level on Saturday – which might be a giant change from final yr.
4. Ricciardo racing ahead
The aggressive nature of the sector has led to loads of drivers believing they might make it into the highest 10, however one who appears to have a bit extra of a declare than others is Daniel Ricciardo.
The previous AlphaTauri workforce – now often known as RB – have proven glimpses of sturdy efficiency, with Ricciardo even topping FP1. That session came about at a really completely different time of day to qualifying and the race, nonetheless, so is never consultant.
WATCH: Ricciardo raring to go for race day in Bahrain and insists factors end is ‘real looking’
What’s extra telling is the long term knowledge from FP2 and the sensation that the drivers have within the automotive, with Ricciardo believing his 14th place on the grid is out of place in comparison with the potential that’s within the new RB challenger.
“Something can occur as nicely,” he stated after qualifying. “Some individuals may be excited. Some individuals may be nervous…”
5. The place do Alpine stack up in race trim?
Nervous is extra prone to be the emotion at Alpine than excited, after a troublesome first aggressive session of the season noticed the workforce consigned to the again row of the grid.
Alpine had been conscious that they may face a difficult begin and have been bracing themselves for a tough weekend in Bahrain, however it’s nonetheless a shock to see the workforce that completed sixth within the constructors’ championship final yr – and picked up two podiums – struggling so badly early on.
READ MORE: ‘We now have quite a lot of work forward of us’ – Alpine drivers say double-Q1 exit ‘not a shock’ in Bahrain
Pierre Gasly felt he had an opportunity of reaching Q2 with a clear run, however in the end he begins final alongside workforce mate Esteban Ocon.
However qualifying efficiency is one factor, and race tempo is one other. Very similar to Haas have been working arduous to try to discover a means of changing one-lap pace into race outcomes, Alpine may be extra aggressive when the lights exit.
If they’re, then there are prone to be thrilling battles all through the sector, with no workforce actually separated from the remainder. But when they aren’t, then Alpine will know the size of the duty they’ve forward of them this season after discovering points in testing which are limiting their potential to get probably the most out of the brand new A524.
2024 Bahrain GP Qualifying: Catastrophe for Alpine with Gasly and Ocon each knocked out in Q1
