Bahrain Grand Prix: The 7 Highlights
At the start of its 2020 edition, a look back at the seven main highlights of the Bahrain Grand Prix from its debut in 2004 to 2019.
Bahrain hosts this weekend the 16th edition of its national Grand Prix, part of the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship. The first Grand Prix ever held in the Middle East, this Grand Prix has witnessed some very thrilling races on its grounds. We have selected the 7 events that, for us, are the most significant.
1. The Hamilton / Rosberg Battle, a Legendary Duel (2014)
How could we not start this top 7 with this epic duel, which everyone remembers and will remember for a long time?
In pole position, Nico Rosberg has a poor start and sees Hamilton take the lead after the first corner. The beginning of the race is dominated by Hamilton, but the Briton wears his tires more and consumes more than his German counterpart.
Rosberg comes back and tries his luck at the first corner but Hamilton remains the leader. He attempts the same maneuver a lap later and this time, he passes his world champion teammate… until turn 5 where side by side in the descent, Nico is forced to yield.
Separated by Mercedes’ pit strategy, the two men found themselves together again at the end of the race following the safety car intervention after the spectacular incident involving Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) and Estéban Gutierrez (Sauber).
Forced to switch to hard tires, Hamilton is under constant pressure from Rosberg, who is on soft tires for the end of the Grand Prix, trying to overtake every lap and by any means.
The Mercedes pit wall is on the verge of a heart attack when the checkered flag falls above Hamilton, who has withstood the magnificent attacks of Nico Rosberg.
Certainly the highlight of their rivalry!
2. Successful Debut for Alonso with the Reds (2010)
After a challenging year with Renault in 2009, Fernando Alonso is the star transfer of this 2010 market by signing for three seasons with the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari alongside Felipe Massa.
In Bahrain for his first Grand Prix, he qualifies in third position behind Sebastian Vettel on pole and his Brazilian teammate. At the start, the double World Champion passes his teammate and chases Sebastian Vettel.
At the 34th lap, the German, struggling with a spark plug issue for several laps, loses ground and is overtaken by both Ferrari drivers and Hamilton.
Alonso just has to bring the car back home to secure his first victory in Red, and moreover, in his first race. In doing so, he emulates a certain Kimi Räikkönen… the driver he also succeeds at the wheel of the Ferrari!
Grosjean ends 14-year drought (2012)
Often mocked for his off-track incidents, many forget that Romain Grosjean is an excellent driver, endowed with impressive speed and a well-filled resume.
After a few Grand Prix races and a chaotic start in F1 with Renault in 2009, the Franco-Swiss driver returned in 2012, bolstered by a GP2 title.
Starting 7th on the grid, Grosjean gets a great start and finds himself 4th at the end of the first lap. In the 3rd lap, he gets past Webber and sets off in pursuit of Vettel.
If the German is much too strong with his Red Bull, the Frenchman is fighting for second place with his teammate Kimi Räikkönen. Thanks to a better strategy, the returning Finn will overcome his teammate, but the Frenchman steps onto the first podium of his young career!
A resounding achievement as France has waited a long time to see one of its drivers back on the podium! Exactly 14 years since Jean Alesi’s second place in the eventful 1998 Belgian Grand Prix.
4. 200th Grand Prix… and victory for a record-breaking Vettel (2018)
Reaching the milestone of 200 Grand Prix in a career is proof of your competitiveness at the highest level, even if some have not necessarily had the equipment to regularly battle at the front.
Sebastian Vettel reached this symbolic milestone at the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix. Having secured pole position the day before, he started well and dominated from start to finish, reminiscent of his best days at Red Bull. He magnificently held off a pressing Valtteri Bottas at the end of the race to secure his 49th victory.
This is the first time he has won two consecutive Grand Prix races for Ferrari, which hadn’t won the first two races of a season since 2004 and a certain Michael Schumacher.
With 3 poles and 4 victories, Vettel becomes the undisputed master of Bahrain and finishes his 200th Grand Prix with a victory, like his fellow world champions Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton.
5. Bahrain, land of the first poles (2008, 2017, and 2019)
What is the common point between Robert Kubica, Valtteri Bottas, and Charles Leclerc? While the fact that they are all F1 drivers is obvious, another detail may have escaped you…
Sometimes the same story repeats itself on the same circuit! We think particularly of the World Championship conclusions in Mexico in recent years or Suzuka in the 1980s. But in Bahrain, it’s another story that has occurred multiple times.
Indeed, in 2008 Robert Kubica, then at the peak of his form before his terrible accident in 2011, achieved his first (and only) pole position in his career, which was also BMW Sauber’s first.
In 2017, Bottas, freshly arrived at Mercedes after Rosberg’s surprise departure, also secured his first pole by dominating Lewis Hamilton, no less. And in 2019, in his second Grand Prix with Ferrari, Charles Leclerc emulated his teammates and also became a pole sitter, the youngest in the history of Scuderia.
Another common point between these three drivers? Despite their Saturday feat, victory eluded all three of them the following day against Massa (2008), Vettel (2017), and Hamilton (2019).
6. Rosberg’s record for precocity (2006)
First GP2 champion in history in 2005, young Nico Rosberg arrives in Formula 1 in 2006 with the prestigious Williams team, which crowned his father Keke 24 years earlier.
This is followed by a race that can be described as an offensive masterclass, ending with his first career points, finishing just behind his experienced teammate, Mark Webber.
But above all, in the matter, Nico sets the fastest lap in the race and then becomes the youngest holder of a fastest lap in a race by surpassing Fernando Alonso.
This record will stand for 10 years before a certain Max Verstappen arrives at Red Bull.
7. Record for Schumacher and Rosberg, Räikkönen’s incredible comeback… the superb 2006 edition
Besides Rosberg who captured the attention, on Saturday the Red Baron Michael Schumacher, after a complicated 2005, secured his 65th pole position and matched the record-holder in this regard, the late Ayrton Senna.
While this record seemed unbeatable, Schumacher added 3 more poles to bring his record to 68 before Hamilton’s arrival and his some 97 pole positions at the time of writing.
And the 2006 edition also offered us one of Kimi Räikkönen’s most impressive comebacks. Facing issues with his McLaren during qualifying, the Finn started at the very back and overtook his rivals one by one to beautifully finish on the third step of the podium.
Sumptuous.
BONUS: Pierre Gasly’s 4th place (2018)
Let’s finish in style with the first real outstanding performance from our national Pierrot! For what is only his seventh Grand Prix, the Norman secures 4th place behind Vettel and the Mercedes in the Grand Prix, marking not only his best result in F1 but also Honda’s best result since their return as an engine supplier in 2015. The cherry on top: he is deservedly voted “Driver of the Day” by the F1 community.
The rest you know, by becoming the first Frenchman of the 21st century to win a Grand Prix, in Monza a few months ago!
And you, what is your best memory of the Bahrain Grand Prix?
