Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson on why, with a little thought, the Bahrain International Circuit deserves a better reputation.
Talk about a contrast. From the smog of Shanghai, F1's next stop is the dust and sand of Bahrain. The amount of dust which settles on the track is very apparent from the moment everyone arrives at the circuit and from a driver's perspective, the amount of the dust that is thrown up by the diffusers is always a shock. It's also a serious problem for the cars because the dust can quickly destroy the surface of the tyres and all the teams will travel to Bahrain with the expectation that their tyres will grain quite quickly. Personally, I've always enjoyed driving at Bahrain. Considering where it's built, the circuit has quite a bit of character and, although you'd naturally expect it to be flat and featureless because it's in the middle of a desert, there are quite a few undulations in the lay-out - which is something that always gives a circuit plenty of character. It doesn't have the biggest fanbase and, although you always know that there is a huge television audience watching you when you're out on the track, it does feel as if something is missing. The atmosphere, the cheering of the fans for different drivers, the flags...all those things definitely add something to the whole experience of a race weekend.The Driver's Eye: Bahrain
Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson on why, with a little thought, the Bahrain International Circuit deserves a better reputation
By Anthony Davidson