Bahrain will be one of just three circuits that Pirelli is yet to visit in competition this year, but unlike Hockenheim in Germany and the United States Grand Prix, the Italian firm has experience of the Sakhir track through two tyre tests that were carried out there in December 2010 and January 2011, as Pirelli geared up to its Formula One return. On the first occasion, the test was interrupted by a sandstorm that blew sand onto the track and stopped the test car running: a situation that highlights one of the most prominent characteristics of the Middle Eastern circuit, which is located in the middle of the desert.
Sand frequently gets onto the track and reduces grip, but it is very hard to predict when and where. Pirelli will bring the P Zero White medium tyres and P Zero Yellow soft tyres to Bahrain: the same combination used in Australia and China.
The Sakhir circuit will revert to its original 5.412-kilometre track layout in 2012, having used an extended loop the last time that the race was run in 2010. The 15 corners and variable track width provide ample opportunity for overtaking. Traction and braking form the main challenges of the circuit, with the cars going from 315kph to 65kph in just 130 metres and three seconds at turn one. This generates forces on the tyres equivalent to 5G. The surrounding sand means that the track can be very dirty, especially at the beginning of the weekend, so it is very important for drivers to stick to the racing line, particularly on the fast but twisty section from turns four to seven.
Pirellis motorsport director Paul Hembery: "There are a number of technical challenges that we are anticipating for Bahrain, with the hot conditions in excess of 30 degrees centigrade putting the compounds into a different working range. Weve gathered some data from the track as the result of our tests there in the past, but the tyres and cars have changed so much since then that it is almost like starting again with a blank sheet of paper. However, we're expecting a notable degree of degradation that should certainly test the teams in terms of strategy. With the circuit not having been frequently used, we are anticipating quite a high degree of track evolution over the course of the weekend. The risk of sand on the track can be an issue, as it takes time to clear and can cause graining. So tyre management will again be crucial in Bahrain, with rear traction in particular the key to a strong qualifying and race pace."
Pirellis test driver Lucas di Grassi: "I'll always have very good memories of Bahrain, as in 2010 it was where I made my debut as a Formula One race driver, with Virgin. Bahrain is very challenging when it comes to tyre consumption and car set-up. There are some long straights so you need to have a balanced compromise, but achieving the best possible traction is definitely the key to a good lap time. Using the DRS together with the tyres effectively will be essential for qualifying. In particular, getting a really good exit from the corners onto the straights is a sure way to make up time. If you spin the wheels, that takes life out of the tyres as well as slowing you down. Bahrain is always quite an unpredictable circuit in terms of track evolution. The sand is a very big factor. When the sand is blown onto the track, this decreases the grip and the effect is to make the car slide more, increasing tyre wear."
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
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