BAHRAIN GP SAKHIR RACE 15

DANIEL RICCIARDO RACE DRIVER #3

After a stellar start, the Turkish Grand Prix faded into frustration for . But he needs no reminder that it’s all to play for in the championship with the Australian more than fired up for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Q&A

What do you like about racing in Bahrain? How motivated are you, especially after the frustration last I’m looking forward to being back in the heat in Bahrain! I know time out? we’ve been to some awesome tracks across Europe recently and We had a difficult time last time out in Turkey, with the low whilst they’ve all been fun for various reasons, the weather has levels of grip and wet weather making it a very unpredictable been too cold for me! I much prefer the heat and it’s still pretty race. Bahrain should be back to more ‘normal’ running, with a warm in Bahrain during the evening, which is great. Two of the more familiar track surface. We need to get both cars back into three practice sessions are during the day when it’s really hot the points. I’m feeling much more on top of the car since we and both qualifying and the race are in the evening when the were last in Bahrain, so I think we should be in a good place. circuit is a lot cooler. This does make preparing for this race a We also have a bit of unfinished business there after last challenge and adapting to different set-ups is important. season, so I’m pretty hungry and fired up.

What’s there to say about the circuit? The Sakhir circuit in Bahrain is a good one, I’ve always enjoyed racing there and night sessions are always fun to take part in. In recent years, I haven’t had the best results in Bahrain, but I’m looking to set that right this weekend. There are some decent overtaking spots, especially Turn 1, which is probably the best place to attack.

I’m feeling much more on top of the car since we were last in Bahrain, so I think we should be in a good place. We also have a bit of unfinished business there after last season.

Daniel Ricciardo

ESTEBAN OCON RACE DRIVER #31

It was a far from straightforward Turkish Grand Prix for as he heads to Bahrain full of motivation for a big result at an important time in the season.

Q&A

What do you know about Bahrain? What is your mindset for the race? Bahrain is a track that I first drove in 2015 in GP3 and a I’m definitely feeling motivated after what happened at circuit I’ve driven quite regularly since then. I really enjoy the last two races. I’ve said it doesn’t feel like we have too driving there as it’s quite a complete circuit with plenty to much luck on our side of the garage, but I believe it’s in our offer. It’s also the first night race of the year and racing under own hands to turn that around. There’s not much time to the night sky and floodlights is always a great experience. feel sorry for ourselves, so I’m determined to have a solid It just gives you a sensation of speed even more to what we weekend and take some big points at a strategic time of the normally have in the day. As well as that, it’s going to be a season. lot hotter than what we’ve experienced recently, especially compared to Portimão and Turkey, where it was a lot cooler! It’s back to a more normal weekend in terms of the conditions.

What will the main challenges be this weekend? It’s certainly a challenge for the cars and drivers racing in the heat. It’s going to be a little more conventional to have the tyres working back to normal and then it’s up to us to do the best on car set-up. Bahrain brings some great opportunities for overtaking and it’s also usually a great race for strategy, so let’s see what happens this weekend. Turn 1 is the best overtaking spot and Turn 4 is also pretty good. Overall, it’s a cool track, so I’m really looking forward to going there.

There’s not much time to feel sorry for ourselves, so I’m determined to have a solid weekend and take some big points at a strategic time of the season.

Esteban Ocon

RETURN TO MORE FAMILIAR GROUND

CIARON PILBEAM, CHIEF RACE ENGINEER , DP WORLD F1 TEAM

With a return to more tried and tested track and weather conditions, Chief Race Engineer Ciaron Pilbeam looks ahead to this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Q&A

What are the expectations heading to a warmer weekend in Bahrain? What did the team learn from Turkey? After several races at unfamiliar circuits in cold European autumn conditions, going Turkey was obviously a very disappointing result for our team. The conditions were to Bahrain is a change to more familiar territory. The drivers and teams know the exceptional, with low track grip, low temperatures and two wet days, and some circuit well and have a good idea of what to expect. One of the features of the other teams dealt with these conditions more successfully than ours did. Although Bahrain race weekend is the timing of the sessions, with practice one and three we are unlikely to encounter similar conditions very often, we need to learn what we taking place in the heat of the day and practice two, qualifying and the race all can from that weekend and put the disappointment behind us and focus on the last later in the afternoon, when the track starts to cool down after sunset. This has a three races of this year. significant effect on tyre grip and performance, and makes practice two by far the

most relevant practice session as it is the closest to the conditions of qualifying and With only three races left, how is the team shaping up in the fight for third place? the race. The circuit is generally quite hard on tyres, with some high speed cornering The team had a setback in the Constructors’ Championship at the last race in that generates a lot of energy, and a high traction demands out of the low and Istanbul, where our closest competitors scored well, and we have some ground to medium speed corners. make up in the race for third place. It is still well within reach though, and we need to return quickly to the form that we showed in the races before that.

BAHRAIN GP PREVIEW LUNDGAARD AND ZHOU READY FOR BAHRAIN DOUBLE HEADER

“It’s been a while since the last round, but I haven’t been Academy Drivers and head to Bahrain resting. I’ve still been driving as I did the tests in the R.S.18, which was quite nice, especially as it was at the Bahrain this weekend as the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship nears its season end. track. There are two rounds in the season left and I’m definitely going maximum attack as there’s nothing to lose. Christian remains in the outright title battle but knows only a series of race wins will propel I’m going all in and, especially after the Sochi win, I’m feeling more confident in myself, so I’m ready to bounce back and him up the leaderboard. The Danish driver is fourth in the championship – second best finish strong for the end of the season.” rookie overall – on 145 points with a maximum 88 points up for grabs.

GUANYU ZHOU Zhou claimed his first Formula 2 victory in Russia last time out in September as he looks to finish his second season in the category on a bright note. Zhou is eighth on 119.5 points.

Both drivers took to the Bahrain International Circuit earlier in the month in the 2018 “I’m looking forward to the last two rounds. I had the R.S.18 Renault R.S.18 Formula 1 car in preparation for the final two Formula 2 rounds in Sakhir. Formula 1 test there a couple of weeks ago and that was my first time at the track. Getting to run on the track before the race was very important. I think we’ve had our struggles this year and we’ve worked quite hard during this break to figure out the problem and how we can make sure we are straight on the pace for the first Bahrain round. It’s quite important we start with a good baseline set-up and we should be looking quite good for that. Competing for the title is still there, but my target is to win the races, improve race by race and then see where we are.”

CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD

BAHRAIN GP PREVIEW TYRE CHOICES

WHITE HARD (C2) YELLOW MEDIUM (C3) RED SOFT (C4)

DANIEL 2 3 8

ESTEBAN 2 3 8

DANIEL IN BAHRAIN

RENAULT IN BAHRAIN

LAST SEASON’S TEAM RESULT

ESTEBAN IN BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN GP PREVIEW