F1 drivers aiming for improvements
Manama : With the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix being only the second round of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, many teams and drivers know that there is still plenty to be done to get the best out of their challengers.
Bahrain fan-favourite and three-time winner at BIC Fernando Alonso of McLaren is looking to build from his fifth-place finish at the season-opening race in Australia.
“I’m already really excited to head to Bahrain and get back in the car,” Alonso said. “Australia gave us a positive feeling and I hope we can continue that momentum as we head into these back-to-back races.
“We mustn’t get complacent – these two races in Bahrain and Shanghai are tough on the cars and it’s important that we maintain good reliability if we are to maximise our potential. The competition is very strong and we need to keep pushing forward for more points.”
Teammate Stoffel Vandoorne is excited about racing both in daylight and under floodlights, with BIC being one of only a few locations on the Formula 1 calendar where you can do so.
“Racing from day to night always feels special and makes this grand prix so unique,” he said. “Bahrain is a great venue – it’s where I started my F1 career when I filled in for Fernando as reserve driver in 2016, and it’s an important race for us thanks to our shareholders,” he said.
Sauber pair Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc are both hopeful of getting positive results in Bahrain.
“Off to the first back-to-back of the year,” said Ericsson. “Bahrain is a track that I know very well. I have been there a lot of times and enjoy driving on it. The track has different challenges to it, one being the sand surrounding it.”
Leclerc commented: “I’m excited to go to Bahrain. I know the track from last year when I raced there in Formula 2, and have great memories. I had one of my best races there. The track is interesting. Let’s see what the next race will bring.”
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