If tradition was worth a few tenths in performance terms, then the Bahrain Grand Prix could be the scene for a step up in the quality of what the F2012 can deliver. There have been seven previous editions of this race and no less than four of them have been won by Scuderia Ferrari: 2004 with Michael Schumacher, 2007 and 2008 with Felipe Massa and 2010 with Fernando Alonso. And two of the remaining three were also won by Alonso, at the wheel of a Renault. On top of that, Ferrari drivers have secured five additional podium finishes four second places and one third -, then there have been three poles and the same number of fastest race laps. Unfortunately, all these impressive figures mean nothing in terms of lap time, and therefore this coming weekend in Sakhir, it's difficult to see how one can expect a different scenario to the one we witnessed in Shanghai. However, that does not mean the team arrives in Bahrain resigned to its fate; quite the contrary. Even though there are no updates on the F2012 and the Sakhir track characteristics seems purpose made to highlight areas, traction and top speed, in which this car is far from brilliant, the team is absolutely determined to do its utmost to bring home a good result and thus end the 2012 season's opening run of races in the best way possible.
"We knew we would have problems in Shanghai and Sakhir," was the honest admission from Team Principal Stefano Domenicali, who was already back in Maranello on Monday afternoon, along with Technical Director Pat Fry. "Of course, we're unhappy at not being able to bring home the points tally we could have done in China. I think we had the potential to at least get Fernando into the top five and Felipe into the points, but both of them spent almost all their time in traffic and, especially in the Spaniard's case, never managed to lap consistently with a clear track ahead of them. As a result of the lack of top speed, Fernando therefore had to try and overtake at other parts of the track and take risks. In Bahrain, we will try and limit the damage more effectively, as we did not manage to do so in China. Above all, we will have to get the most out of the tyres, both in qualifying and in the race."
In Sakhir, Pirelli is supplying the same compounds we had in Melbourne and Shanghai, namely the Soft and the Medium. On the Chinese track, one could see just how unpredictable was the tyre behaviour, especially as a function of temperature variation. The most striking example came during qualifying, but there were also a few surprises thrown up in the race, not just from team to team, but also in between drivers in the same team. "Understanding when and how much can be got out of the tyres has been the key factor to this first part of the season," continued Domenicali. "It can make the difference and we must improve our ability to analyse and predict their behaviour."
Despite a particularly difficult start in terms of level of competitiveness, Fernando Alonso is third in the Drivers' classification, just eight points off the lead and with the same points 37, he had two years ago at this stage, in a season where he ended up coming to the start of the final race of the year, leading the championship. "This has to be a stimulus to further speed up our car development," says the Scuderia's Team Principal. "The real contest in these weeks is the one taking place in Maranello, where everyone is pushing strongly to try and find any available hundredth of a second in performance terms, in every area. We will have a few new things in Mugello, but we will take right up to the last available day prior to the Spanish Grand Prix to introduce the very latest updates. I am sure that our rivals will also be doing the same, so it will be a case of showing that we can be cleverer than them and do a better job."
The Domenicali-Fry duo has been in Maranello these past few days to keep a close eye on the F2012 development, just as they did between Australia and Malaysia, so they are well used to nights in the air and changing time zones. Meanwhile one half of the team arrived this morning in Bahrain to tackle the usual tasks of getting the garage and work areas ready. The engineers leave Shanghai this night, while Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa arrive in Manama on Thursday morning.
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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