The circuit
Another relatively flat circuit designed by Hermann Tilke like Shanghai, Hockenheim (redesign) and Sepang.
The circuit is quite wide and promotes a lot of overtaking -particularly in turns 1,4,14.
The last turn in the circuit Isee here(
http://www.formula1.com/race/circuitmap/734.html) is a tricky corner to get right and drivers frequently overdo it like JPM last year and Villeneuve in the 2005 Qually 1 sessions.
The circuit is a medium speed circuit with high temperatures and is tough on brakes due to long straights and tight hairpins.
As there is a lot of sand being blown onto the track, all teams develop unique air filters and other mechanisms to protect the cars from the dust.
Aerial View
2004 Pole Position - Michael Schumacher - 1m30.252s
2004 Winner - Michael Schumacher
2005 Race preview and talking points
- The big news is that Ferrari is debuting the 2005 spec car. It seems to run in the top 5 comfortably but is certainly not the class of the field like the F2004 was in its first race.
- Will Toyota and Red Bull continue to rake in the points now that Ferrari is back
- Will Villeneuve finally put in a decent performance
- Will Alonso win again. He is proving to be utterly dominant this season. Has Fisichella finally met his match?
- Will the BAR Hondas finish the race?
- How would the latest Bridgestones hold out in the race?
2005 Qualifying session
Results -->
http://www.formula1.com/race/result/734/19.html
Press conference -->
http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2801/734.html
Driver quotes -->
http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2800/734.html
Q1 Times:
P. No Driver Team - Engine Tyres Times Ave/Gaps
1. 5 ALONSO Renault M 1'29"848 217.047 Km/h
2. 16 TRULLI Toyota M 1'29"993 + 0'00"145
3. 1 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'30"237 + 0'00"389
4. 8 HEIDFELD Williams BMW M 1'30"390 + 0'00"542
5. 6 FISICHELLA Renault M 1'30"445 + 0'00"597
6. 7 WEBBER Williams BMW M 1'30"592 + 0'00"744
7. 9 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'30"594 + 0'00"746
8. 15 KLIEN RedBull Cosworth M 1'30"646 + 0'00"798
9. 10 DE LA ROSA McLaren Mercedes M 1'30"725 + 0'00"877
10. 12 MASSA Sauber Petronas M 1'30"933 + 0'01"085
11. 17 R.SCHUMACHER Toyota M 1'30"952 + 0'01"104
12. 3 BUTTON BAR Honda M 1'30"957 + 0'01"109
13. 4 SATO BAR Honda M 1'31"113 + 0'01"265
14. 14 COULTHARD RedBull Cosworth M 1'31"211 + 0'01"363
15. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'31"826 + 0'01"978
16. 11 VILLENEUVE Sauber Petronas M 1'32"318 + 0'02"470
17. 19 KARTHIKEYAN Jordan Toyota B 1'33"190 + 0'03"342
18. 18 MONTEIRO Jordan Toyota B 1'33"424 + 0'03"576
19. 21 ALBERS Minardi Cosworth B 1'34"005 + 0'04"157
20. 20 FRIESACHER Minardi Cosworth B 1'34"848 + 0'05"000
Sunday Qualifying times
2005 Bahrain Grand Prix
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired
1 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 3:01.902
2 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 3:02.357
3 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 3:02.660
4 8 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW 3:03.217
5 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 3:03.262
6 17 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 3:03.271
7 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 3:03.369
8 10 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 3:03.373
9 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 3:03.524
10 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 3:03.765
11 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 3:04.348
12 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 3:05.202
13 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 3:05.563
14 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 3:05.844
15 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 3:07.693
16 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 3:07.983
17 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 3:09.428
18 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 3:10.143
19 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 3:10.422
20 20 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth 3:11.261