As F1 enters the final triple-header of its season, and it therefore begins the Bahrain GP weekend, the FIA has provided details of the weekend, including stewards and DRS.
Like years prior, the track will feature three DRS zones, with the first between Turn 3 and Turn 4. Also as was true in the past, a second DRS zone will be situated between Turn 10 and Turn 11. The final DRS zone will be on the start/finish straight.
The detection points for each respective zone will come 50 meters before Turn 1, 10 meters before Turn 9, and 110 meters before Turn 14 on the 5.412 kilometer circuit, comprised of 14 corners. The only change from 2019 in this regard is the T14’s detection point.
It was 108 meters last year. The activation, though, remains same as seen in F1 2019, with the first one being 23 meters after Turn 3, the second one being 50 meters after Turn 10 and the final one being 170 meters after Turn 15.
Among other changes, the FIA notes that the tyre barrier at the back of Turn 1 run-off in the straight-ahead position has been extended and increased in depth. At the same time, the barrier at the back of Turn 10 run-off has been upgraded as well.
The F1 stewards, meanwhile, for the Bahrain GP include Garry Connelly, Loic Bacquelaine, Mika Salo, and Mazel Al-Hilli, who is the national steward of the race. Al-Hilli also serves as the president of the Bahrain Circuit Racing Club.
Salo is a regular to stewarding, but was not on the slate of stewards last year. Neither were any of the race’s other stewards, bar Connelly, who is an FIA WMSC member and the Chairman of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety.
The F1 Bahrain GP was going to take place in Spring of this year as the season’s second race, before it was shelved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it serves as the antepenultimate round of the year, paired with two more events.
Looking at the track limits situation for F1 Bahrain GP, the FIA will only monitor Turn 4 at this juncture and failure to adhere to the regulations will result in lap time deletion and possible time penalty as well. Here’s an explanation on the same:
Turn 4 – Exit:
a) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track on the exit of Turn 4, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
General – Turn 4 Exit:
a) A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.
b) Each time any car fails to negotiate Turn 4 Exit by using the track, teams will be informed via the official messaging system.
c) On the third occasion of a driver failing to negotiate Turn 4 Exit by using the track during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards.
d) In all cases detailed above, the driver must only re-join the track when it is safe to do so and without gaining a lasting advantage.
e) The above requirements will not automatically apply to any driver who is judged to have been forced off the track, each such case will be judged individually.
Control de límites de pista en T4.
Track limits control on T4.#BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/RwguEdPFqZ— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) November 26, 2020
Post this weekend’s Bahrain GP, another F1 race will be held at the Bahrain international circuit on December 6, albeit on the outer circuit of the track, with its many layouts. It remains unclear if the stewards will remain the same for the second race of the pair. DRS zones for what is called the ‘Sakhir Grand Prix’ have also not yet been specified.
Here’s how the weather looked like until Wednesday night – it is expected to be cloudy with mild rain:
La previsión dice no hay posibilidad muy baja de lluvia (20%) Nublado. Temp max 27C de día, 23C de noche. Rachas viento medio.
Forecast says very low chance of rain (20%). Cloudy. Max temp during the day 27C, night 23C. Medium wind gusts.#BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/VNrFYScd5h
— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) November 25, 2020
Here’s other FIA Race Director’s note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2020%20Bahrain%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Directors’%20Event%20Notes%20.pdf
Here’s news from Red Bull on COVID-19, Alfa Romeo on FP1
Here’s raw video from F1 of Outer Track