Mercedes aiming for another win this season in Bahrain
This Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be the first time this race is held at nighttime.
On Friday, Hamilton topped the time charts in both practice sessions. The Briton led the way in P1 with a lap in 1 minute, 37.502 seconds and set the pace again in P2, turning a lap in 1:34.325. Rosberg was second quickest in the two sessions.
Hamilton has yet to win the Bahrain GP in six previous attempts. He finished second in this race during his 2007 rookie season and placed third in the 2010 event.
“It was great to kick-start my season with a win in Malaysia,” Hamilton said. “Taking a one-two was also a fantastic result for the team, and I can’t wait to see what we can do in Bahrain. I’ve finished on the podium here a couple of times here, but for one reason or another, I’ve never managed to get the win. Until last week, it was the same story for me with Malaysia. So fingers crossed this can be the year of breaking those cycles.”
Rosberg’s best finish in the Bahrain GP is fifth (2010 and ’12). He started on pole but finished ninth in last year’s event here.
“The first two races have been a great start to my season, and I’m already looking forward to being back in the car and carrying on that momentum in Bahrain,” Rosberg said. “It’s a great track, and I really enjoy driving it. I’ve never had much luck on race weekends here, but it’s definitely the one I’m best prepared for this year.”
Hamilton and Rosberg were very quick in Bahrain during winter testing in February and March.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third fastest in the first two practices for the Bahrain GP. Alonso has won this event three times (2005, ’06 and ’10), which is more than any other driver.
Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull has won the last two Bahrain GPs. Vettel, the four-time defending world champion, retired early in Australia but bounced back nicely in Malaysia with a third-place finish.
“The track here is quite tricky, as you have got a lot of straights, and therefore we have got to save quite a lot of fuel on Sunday compared to Malaysia,” Vettel said. “Already in testing and for sure at the first two races, we have seen that Mercedes has the strongest package. They are way quicker than us on the straights, so it will be difficult to keep up with them.
“But a very positive thing that we have seen in the first two races is that our car has potential, so it is up to us now to get the best out of what we have at the moment.”
Vettel was 10th on the time charts in P1 (1:39.389) and seventh in P2 (1:35.606).
Series: Formula One. Date: Sunday, April 6. Race: Bahrain Grand Prix. Site: Bahrain International Circuit. Track: 3.195-mile (5.412-kilometer), 15-turn road course. Start Time: 11 a.m. ET. Laps: 57. Miles: 182.115 (308.238 km). 2013 Winner: Sebastian Vettel. Television: NBC Sports Network.
Categorized in: FIA