The BAHRAIN GP 2023
The Bahrain GP 2023 is the first race of the season and one of the most exciting. This is the perfect opportunity to see some of the fastest cars in the world as they battle it out on a track known for its abrasive asphalt.
Defending champion Max Verstappen took pole position in qualifying, whilst Red Bull teammates Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc started second and third. Both should be in with a chance of taking a podium.
The track
The Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir has been a staple of the Formula 1 calendar since it was first opened in 2004. The track has a long history of providing some thrilling racing action as drivers navigate its series of straights and tight corners in an intense environment of dry heat.
The circuit is a mix of long straights and sharp cornering, making it ideal for overtaking on race weekend. In addition to its wide berth, the track also has hard braking zones that make it a challenge for teams and drivers to avoid crashing.
There are three DRS zones around the track that make it easy to overtake rivals as they dive through the corners, especially down the start/finish straight. However, overtaking is a constant battle on the Bahrain International Circuit and drivers will often find themselves in an uncomfortable position as they try to get their cars to stop without compromising their speed too much.
Max Verstappen, who started the season in fine form, looks set to start on pole at this year’s race. He will be joined in the front row by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell following him home.
Lewis Hamilton will hope to put his miserable 2022 campaign behind him in the Mercedes but his hopes of a return to dominance look extremely slim. He will have to work hard to beat the likes of Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc and he’ll need to be in top form throughout the race.
The 2023 BAHRAIN GP will take place over the weekend of 3-5 March, with qualifying taking place on Saturday and the main event on Sunday. You can follow the action live on ORF TV or Servus TV, both of which have free coverage. You can watch the F1 season opener on your computer, tablet or mobile device.
The circuit layout
After a 15 week hiatus, F1 is back in action this weekend for the BAHRAIN GP 2023. The track is made up of 15 corners and three very long straights, making it a challenging track to race on.
The circuit has been around on the Formula 1 calendar for 19 years and is a firm favourite with many drivers, particularly British driver Lewis Hamilton. He is the most successful driver at the venue, winning five races here and has a good chance of doing the same this year.
This season will also see the introduction of a new track surface that is expected to be softer and more consistent. This is likely to have a positive impact on the speed of the cars and their handling.
With the addition of the new surface, the FIA has also announced that they will be making changes to the DRS zones on some tracks. Specifically, the last chicane on the main straight will no longer be used for overtaking and the DRS on corner ten will be shortened.
It’s worth noting that the FIA also announced that it would be introducing net zero 2030 at the track, which is in line with the sustainable goal for all F1 race weekends. This is a big step in the right direction and one that could see the track become more sustainable over time, as well as improving the experience for fans.
The defending back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen won the opening 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, leading home team-mate Sergio Perez in a race that was dominated by Red Bull. Fernando Alonso produced a scintillating drive to take third in his debut Aston Martin, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was denied a podium finish due to reliability concerns.
The cars
The first race of the 2023 season is just around the corner and Formula 1 has finally arrived at its home circuit in Bahrain. With new cars, new drivers and a fresh pecking order, F1 is set for its biggest ever season.
The opening round of the season is a big opportunity for teams to test out their new machinery. It will give fans an idea of how they have improved over the winter, and it could also reveal how the competition is shaping up in terms of race pace.
Almost all teams have improved in terms of top speed, and that’s no surprise as the 2023 car is a big step up in performance compared to the 2022 spec car. Red Bull Racing are still the best, with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc leading the way, followed by Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso in second and third respectively.
Ferrari has improved their car considerably compared to last year, and both their cars are in the top three in terms of race pace. That’s something they needed to do after being behind Red Bull in that area last season.
Mercedes has also made significant progress in its car concept, although it remains plagued by issues such as bounce and porpoise. Despite this, it has shown enough potential to suggest that it will be able to challenge for victories again in the coming months.
Regardless of what happens over the next 23 races, Max Verstappen’s dominance at the Bahrain International Circuit has made it clear that Red Bull are on the fast track to a new era of success in 2023. The team’s superior race pace has the potential to make a season of one-way traffic at the front of the field a reality, and we can expect this to continue throughout the season.
The drivers
The Bahrain International Circuit hosts the first race of the 2023 season on Sunday March 5. With Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso both making their 16th outings at this track, it’s expected to be another big race – and one that could see the two reigning world champions take their records to six wins each.
Despite being a relatively short 5.412-kilometre track, it’s home to some pretty big corners. There’s a huge sweeping uphill right-hander at Turn 12 and a series of downhill apexes on the penultimate straight between Turns 13 and 15.
Both drivers should enjoy racing around this track that favours the quicker cars, so top six finishes for both seem to be likely. Max Verstappen is the heavy favourite for this race, but Charles Leclerc dominated last season’s opener at Bahrain and looks set to follow suit this weekend.
With the Red Bull drivers enjoying some great form this year, it’s likely that they’ll both have a strong chance of finishing in the top three. However, they’ll have to battle hard all the way around this track that favours the faster cars and there should be plenty of action along the way.
The AlphaTauri drivers are also in the mix, with Miyamoto Tsunoda looking comfortable with the car’s limitations during qualifying and setting the fastest time. Unfortunately, he didn’t make a decent enough start in the race to hold on to this position, and he was ultimately undercut by Pierre Gasly.
With so many drivers in the mix at the Bahrain GP, we’ll be looking to bring you all the latest news from the event and give you all the tips and picks that you need. We’ll also be providing you with the latest odds and bets for this race, so you can be sure that you’re getting the best value for your money.
The teams
The first race of the 2023 Formula 1 season takes place on March 5, and it’s set to be an exciting weekend of racing at Sakhir. With a long straight that’s often swept up and down, the track is known for its fast overtaking opportunities and thrilling racing.
Its unique location in the middle of the desert poses a few challenges, including high temperatures and abrasive track surfaces that can affect tyre performance. That’s why all ten teams have had a few days of testing on the circuit to get used to their new cars before they hit the track on Saturday.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is the favourite to win after claiming pole, with Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz just behind. Both drivers were electric last season and can be expected to challenge for a podium finish around this track that favours the quicker cars.
Lewis Hamilton is another driver to keep an eye out for this weekend. He’s the reigning champion and has won five Bahrain Grand Prix – a joint-most of any driver – so it’s unlikely he’ll miss out on a points finish this time round.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are also tipped to do well at this weekend, with their teammates pushing them hard all the way around this track that favours the quicker cars. Both teams have had a few issues in the early stages of 2023, but they should make a comeback at this weekend and can both expect to pick up maximum points.
Esteban Ocon will be looking to bounce back from his disappointing start in F1 2023, where he was penalised twice for alleged violations. The first of those penalties saw him deemed to be out of his grid slot, which resulted in a five-second time penalty that he had to serve at his next pit stop. It was a costly error, but he did recover from it in the end to score a solid ninth place.
