Welcome to the 2021 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix pre-race notes. Three days of testing two weeks ago at the Bahrain International Circuit set a preliminary order, seeing a strong field of cars led by an admittedly sceptical Red Bull Racing.
F1 2021 is here, place your bets, and let the games begin.
Race information
2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit
- Date: 26-28 March 2021
- Circuit Length: 5.412km
- Race Distance: 308.238km
- Number of laps: 57
- Official Lap Record: 1:31.447 – Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 2005
- DRS Zones: 3
Top stories
- F1 teams successfully complete 3 day Test in Bahrain.
- Mercedes show poorest testing form in Turbo-Hybrid era.
- “Fastest ever” Saudi Arabian GP street circuit details revealed.
- Drive to Survive season 3 released on March 19th
- Stefano Domenicali reveals long to-do list and the season ahead.
- Formula 1’s #WeRaceAsOne initiative continues in 2021.
- Fernando Alonso Returns to the 2021 F1 grid.
- Sabine Schmitz passes away aged 51, Murray Walker passes away aged 97, and Johnny Dumfries passes away aged 62.
Top quotes
- Toto Wolff [Mercedes]: “I always worry, sometimes for the right reasons, sometimes for the wrong reasons, but pre-season testing is always exciting because you always find the hair in the soup, things that are not good and we had quite some struggle in the first few days.”
- Toyoharu Tanabe [Honda]: “I believe we exceeded last year’s Mercedes.”
- Christian Horner [Red Bull]: “We are under no illusions: Mercedes are the favourites.”
- Mattia Binotto [Ferrari]: “We know it’s not only power, it’s the drag of the car as well – as we often said last year – but let me say that both of them contributed in improving our speed on the straights and today we feel it is not anymore a disadvantage.”
Memorable Bahrain Grand Prix moments
- Grosjean’s Miracle | 2020
- Upside Down – Esteban Gutierrez | 2014, and Lance Stroll | 2020
- Robert Kubica’s pole | 2008, and Charles Leclerc’s pole | 2019
- Charles Leclerc’s heartbreak | 2019
- Renault double disaster | 2019
- Red Bull double disaster | 2018
- “He’s such a dickhead” Lewis Hamilton | 2018
- Duel in the desert, Part II – Hamilton vs. Rosberg | 2014
- Duel in the desert, The Original – Button vs. Perez | 2013
- “All the time you have to leave a space” Fernando Alonso | 2012
- Fernando Alonso’s debut Ferrari win on the “Endurance Circuit” | 2010
- Toyota front row lock out | 2009
- Lewis Hamilton mounts Fernando Alonso | 2008
- Kimi Räikkönen’s epic recovery drive | 2006
2021 Race stewards
- Tim Mayer
- Richard Norbury
- Emanuele Pirro
- Mazen Al-Hilli
2020 Bahrain Grand Prix results
- Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:59:47.515
- Max Verstappen | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | +1.254s
- Alexander Albon | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | +8.005s
- Lando Norris | McLaren F1 Team | +11.337s
- Carlos Sainz | McLaren F1 Team | +11.787s
- Pierre Gasly | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | +19.368s
- Daniel Ricciardo | Renault DP World F1 Team | +19.368s
- Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport | +19.680s
- Esteban Ocon | Renault DP World F1 Team | +22.803s
- Charles Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari | +1 Lap
- Daniil Kvyat | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | +1 Lap
- George Russell | Williams Racing | +1 Lap
- Sebastian Vettel | Scuderia Ferrari | +1 Lap
- Nicholas Latifi | Williams Racing | +1 Lap
- Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN | +1 Lap
- Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN | +1 Lap
- Kevin Magnussen | Haas F1 Team | +1 Lap
- Sergio Perez | BWT Racing Point F1 Team | DNF
- Lance Stroll | BWT Racing Point F1 Team | DNF
- Romain Grosjean | Haas F1 Team | DNF
Bahrain Grand Prix previous five winners
- 2020 Lewis Hamilton
- 2019 Lewis Hamilton
- 2018 Sebastian Vettel
- 2017 Sebastian Vettel
- 2016 Nico Rosberg
F1 2021 pre-season testing, 12-14.03.21 Bahrain International Circuit
Top five
- Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing
- Yuki Tsunoda | Scuderia AlphaTauri
- Carlos Sainz | Scuderia Ferrari
- Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN
- Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Best driver
Best team
“UH-OH”s
- Lewis Hamilton
- Carlos Sainz
- Nicholas Latifi
“Way to go”s
- Max Verstappen
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Fernando Alonso
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