10 things to look out for at the 2015 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

The Grand Prix of BahrainThe fourth race of the 2015 Formula 1 season is here, and the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir is the venue for it. This will be the 11th time that a Grand Prix will take place in Bahrain, and for a second year in a row, the race at BIC will be a night race.The odds are predicting another close race between Mercedes and Ferrari, a week after Sebastian Vettel kept both, Lewis Hamilton the race winner at Shanghai, and Nico Rosberg, honest throughout the weekend in China.However, there are many other surprises and notions in store for us this weekend that we have to watch-out for, when all the 20 cars take to the track in Sakhir. So, for your benefit, we have made a list of the 10 best things you should definitely take notice of during the 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix

#1 What will be Rosbergs tantrum this time?

Rosberg has to win to keep his critics shut

Accusing your teammate is not a noble thing to do, but drivers, especially the ones under fire, always tend to that, in some way or another. Most of the times, in general, we hear about the lack of preferential treatment from a squad, but, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg went one better last weekend.

After the chequered flag dropped in China, Rosberg, during the post-race news conference, in front of the whole F1 press corps, alleged that Lewis Hamilton had ruined his race-pace by backing him up into Sebastian Vettel. Although, Hamilton said he was just managing is race efficiently, but that did not amuse the German.

The jury is still out on whether the current World Champion did actually compromise his teammate’s race or not, but one thing is for sure; Rosberg is bringing his A-Game this year, at least in the tantrum department.

#2 The Battle of the Teammates

It’s Button vs Alonso, but not where we imagined

Leaving aside the Rosberg-Hamilton pairing, there are still a quite a few more teammate battles which are breathing fire every second. To start with we have Ferrari, where Sebastian Vettel is getting the better of Kimi Raikkonen, all too regularly. And, then at Williams, we have a rejuvenated Felipe Massa showing the way to young Valtteri Bottas. Down the order the boys at Force India, Lotus and Toro Rosso are scrapping pretty closely with each other.

And, although insignificant in terms of relevance, but the battle between former World Champions Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso in McLaren is also getting hot. The 2009 title winner Button is already 2 to nil up on qualifying form, and he would like to maintain the good momentum at Bahrain.

Since the team has no championship battle to work for, a race against both their drivers is the best form of “challenge” they can manage, at least in qualifying. However, with the expectation that both the McLaren’s will push for Q2 this weekend; a tasty fight is raging to unleash itself between the drivers.

#3 Will the Car Number 13 be lucky this time?

Gravel is not the place you want put your wheels on

Pastor Maldonado is once again getting all the bad press. The Venezuelan was destined to take points last time around in Shanghai; however a “so called” brake problem meant he couldn’t make the pit-lane entry, in a very dramatic fashion, which compromised his race. Maldonado wears a number 13 badge, because in his native Venezuela, this number is considered lucky.

However, going by his Formula 1 career, apart from the one race win three years back in Spain, the former Williams man has endured hard luck, almost at every Formula 1 weekend. So, let us pray and watch out if Pastor can turn his luck around this week at Bahrain and drag himself in to the much needed points.

#4 McLaren getting close to reaching Q2

The McLaren-Honda MP4-30 is getting closer to the Q2 cutoff time every race weekend. Last week they nearly made it out of the second last row-threshold, and this weekend they will hope to cross that line. Thus, all eyes will be on the beleaguered team to make it out of Q1 for the first time this season.

The positive boost comes in, because McLaren believes it can turn its engine up for the difficult BIC track now that their Honda Power Unit has shown significant reliability. If that’s the case, and McLaren get an extra boost for this Saturday, then Q2, and a point or two, will be a very realistic target, and some welcoming news for the team.

#5 First night race of the season

Formula 1 is all about glamour, technology, speed and monumental achievements. Doesnt matter if the sport sometimes can bore us with its procession called racing, but the modern era can surprise us in many other ways.

That surprise was the case when the first night race was announced in 2008, and this show off ritual has since then caught up with other Grand Prix tracks too, the ones with the money at least.

The 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix will be the first night race of the season; and, as we know now, everyone likes fast cars circling around at great speeds under the floodlights. Night races are always fun, and a great spectacle to watch, with all the shining cars racing around to beat each other.

#6 Can Hamilton make it 3 out of 4?

Hamilton would love replicate his 2014 Bahrain performance

Three wins out of 4 races will not be a bad tally to live with for the defending World Champion Lewis Hamilton, before the start of the European season next month. However, he needs to take the winning chequered flag in Bahrain in order to do that. The British sensation is the bookie-favorite to win the upcoming race, and going by form, one cannot dispute that.

However, rivals are always lurking round the corner, and it will be interesting to see whether, if or if not, we get a repeat of 2014 Bahrain GP or 2015 Malaysia GP. But, wise and smart money is still on Hamilton.

#7 Max Verstappen and overtakes

It is not often that a 17 year old racer gets a F1 drive. And, on top of that, it is not at all common that Martin Brundle, live on air, says; that particular young boy is going to become Senna or a Schumacher very quickly. That boy is Max, and his race performance in China is the reason.

In Shanghai, new kid on the block Verstappen, like a pro, pulled off several breathtaking late overtaking moves over his rivals. And, you can easily expect the same from him in Bahrain. The Dutchman has shown enormous confidence under heavy braking, and has raced, till date, like a 30 year old veteran. Although, last week, his race ended prematurely under the smoke of a blown Renault Power Unit, but do watch out for this new Red Bull protégé’s race progress this Sunday.

#8 A perfect weekend for Raikkonen

Sebastian Vettel is running away in the championship. And, Kimi Raikkonen has to take note of that. There is already a huge gap of 31 points between two, and the German also possesses a race win under his wings for the Scuderia.

The Finn however has been hard done most of the times either with; bad race starts, qualifying disasters, punctures in practice sessions or by mechanical issues during a weekend.

The Ice-Man desperately needs a good, clean, weekend, where he can challenge Vettel’s newly found supremacy, and beat his teammate for the first time this year. And, if nothing goes wrong this time, a perfect weekend is probably on for Raikkonen.

We hope the 2007 World Champion gets a bit of luck by his side this Saturday and Sunday.

#9 Can Red Bull finish in points?

It has been a total disastrous season thus far for Red Bull Racing Team and its RB11 package. The former Champions have struggled a lot for pace and reliability, and this week too, a tough race is in store for them.

It will be very interesting to see if the team can manage points this weekend, or ultimately pack up for F1’s European leg with a grim face. The statistics for Red Bull do not indicate a fruition filled race, because of BIC track’s high-speed layout, however, the team will cross their fingers for some positive race-results, anyhow.

But, dare we say; a finish outside of points (or just a place or two inside it) is the bad, and the only, prophecy one can make for this ‘on a free fall’ team.

#10 Who will have the momentum before the European Season Starts

The Bahrain Grand Prix is the 3rd Asian race of the season, and it is the last one for now. That’s because, from next race onwards, the European leg of the season in Spain begins.

The whole paddock believes that the actual F1 championship starts with the European races, where the teams start to take their actual strides.

That’s why; the one, who heads into Spain with a kitty full of points, is going to be a happy team/driver for the next two weeks, knowing they have a head start. And, hence, the mighty significance of the weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

All the teams, and drivers alike, will look for 1st Asian Leg of the season to end up on a high note. And, all will hope to build a comfortable margin over their rivals, before the long and hectic Pan-European races arrive.

Edited by Staff Editor