The race is on!
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
It’s all systems go for the start of racing today in the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
F1’s biggest stars are all looking forward to kicking off this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East ”, and all eyes from around the world will be on Sakhir for the first of the season’s record 23 rounds.
Two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, who is making a return to the top flight with Alpine after last racing with McLaren in 2018, said ahead of the race weekend: “It’s a good track with a mixture of corner speeds and long straights.
Overtaking is possible here, and this means it usually provides an exciting race on Sunday.”
McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo shares Alonso’s sentiments.
“It’s an exciting circuit with a few big braking zones and plenty of opportunities for overtaking,” he said, adding: “Racing at dusk is always cool and brings an added challenge to the weekend.”
The meeting’s main event is the 57-lap night race on Sunday when sparks will fly as F1’s 20-car field battles it out over 57 laps of high-octane thrills.
Before that, an action-packed programme of racing can be enjoyed.
Day one, today, will be headlined by the two-hour-long F1 practice sessions, the first of which takes place in daylight from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm, followed by the second being held under BIC’s bright floodlights from 6 pm to 7 pm.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is excited to see where his team stands in the F1 pecking order to start the new year.
“I like the Bahrain track, and it will be exciting to see our performance.
It’s time to see who has got what,” he said.
Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi underlines the importance of getting the championship off on the right foot.
“We all know how crucial the start of the season is: last year, we were able to score points right at the first race, and they proved very important for the rest of the campaign, so the aim is to once again start with the right foot and boost the team ahead of this important year,” he said.
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