WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 12 Ricciardo, Norris upbeat for ‘home race’ McLaren’s all-new driver pairing hopes to build on the team’s momentum from finishing third last season when the 2021 F1 World Championship flags off this weekend with the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit Daniel Ricciardo • BETTER will be looking to better It’s an exciting circuit his brace of fourth- with a few big braking place finishes in past zones and plenty of KNOW Bahrain Grands Prix opportunities for overtaking. Racing at Lando Norris aiming dusk is always cool Both Daniel Ricciardo to• continue impressive and brings an added and Lando Norris were run of six consecutive challenge to the in the points in the F1 top-10 finishes at BIC, weekend double-header held stretching back to F2 DANIEL RICCIARDO at BIC last season. feature race win in 2018 Ricciardo was seventh “It’s time to go racing again and Norris fourth at Norris, left, and Ricciardo...focused and I’m really excited to be TDT | Manama jumping back into the MCL35M the Bahrain GP. One colours in Bahrain. The 31-year- and getting out on track,” said week later at the cLaren’s Daniel Ric- old Australian commented: “I’m the Briton, 21. “We were only Sakhir GP, Ricciardo ciardo and Lando Nor- really excited for the start of out in Bahrain a couple of weeks was classified fifth and ris will be looking to the season. It’s the beginning ago for pre-season testing and M Ricciardo in action in Bahrain during F1 pre-season testing at BIC (file photo) Norris 10th get the new Formula 1 season off of a new chapter, my first race looking further back it was only on the right foot in their “home in papaya and I can’t wait to get a few months ago since we raced “I’ve had some good perfor- as possible.” come Friday.” race” this weekend in the F1 Gulf started. It’s also a special race there, so I’m looking forward to mances there during my career Ricciardo has enjoyed his Both drivers are expecting a Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 at with Bahrain being the team’s doing it again.” and it’s a track I’ve become smooth transition to what is challenging campaign ahead but Bahrain International Circuit home-from-home.” very familiar with,” said Norris. now his fifth team in F1. “In my remain upbeat nonetheless. (BIC). Ricciardo added: “It’s an excit- Excelling in Sakhir “Even though we only had a few first few months at McLaren the “This season looks like it’s go- The mega motorsport event ing circuit with a few big braking The McLaren pair have ex- days to test, during those days team has made me feel right at ing to be a competitive one, but takes Sakhir by storm Friday to zones and plenty of opportu- celled at BIC in past races. Ric- and in the lead-up to this week- home in such a short space of I’m looking to hit the ground Sunday, and the new teammates nities for overtaking. Racing at ciardo has racked up a few end we’ve been able to learn a time,” he said. “I feel confident running, leave nothing on the are looking forward to getting dusk is always cool and brings top-10 finishes in Sakhir, five in decent amount about the car and comfortable going into the table, give it my all for the team back on the track behind the an added challenge to the week- total—six including last year’s and do some correlation work new season, which is important and hopefully give the fans wheel of their MCL35M con- end.” Sakhir Grand Prix—with a brace in the simulator, which has been as I want to get the most out of something to smile about,” said tenders. Both he and Norris had their of fourth places representing his helpful. the car right from race one. Ricciardo. McLaren have high expecta- first taste of McLaren’s new car best result in Bahrain to date. “Of course, there’s still more “As a team we made the most Norris added: “I know how tions this F1 season, especially at BIC earlier this month in F1 For Norris, his fourth place in we can understand to extract of pre-season testing with some hard everyone in the team has after having won a tight battle pre-season testing, when they the Bahrain Grand Prix last year every final bit of performance, smooth running. It was great to been working, both day and for third place in the 2020 con- posted 327 laps between them followed by 10th at the Sakhir which we’ll need. get to grips with the MCL35M in night, to get us prepared to go structors’ championship, and over three days of running. Nor- Grand Prix has earned him a “I feel confident and ready to just the few days that we had to racing again and I can’t thank their all-new driver pairing is ris is now hungry for more and run of six consecutive top-10 enter my third year in Formula put it through its paces. I think, them enough. We’ve got a long determined to deliver. is excited to get the action going finishes at BIC, stretching all the 1. My aim is to keep building naturally, it takes a bit of time and challenging season ahead Ricciardo will be making his with the first practice session way back to his F2 feature race on my previous experience and to adjust to a new car, but I’m but hopefully we can get off on Grand Prix debut in McLaren this Friday at 2.30pm. win in 2018. help the team progress as much feeling prepared to hit the track the right foot.” F2, Porsche Sprint Challenge ME set to pack BIC grid at F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP 2021 weekend lenge for the drivers’ and teams’ trio of homegrown talents. They F2 will be holding crowns for Uni-Virtuosi, as will are BIC Chief Executive Shai- • Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala and Dan kh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, the opening round Ticktum. who will be racing in the series’ of its 2021 saeason Christian Lundgaard of ART GT4 class; while in the GT3 class Grand Prix made his presence KNOW WHAT will be Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al TDT | Manama felt during F2 pre-season at BIC Khalifa and Shaikh Ali bin Mo- earlier this month and is back hammed Al Khalifa. They are all for the opening round alongside representing Team Bahrain and acked grids of no less than teammate Theo Pourchaire. Also F2 will be staging will be flying the Kingdom’s flag P24 cars each are set to line doing well during the tests were three races at BIC, proudly in the event. up at Bahrain International Cir- the Hitech Grand Prix pairing of with two 23-lap Other GT3 drivers entered are cuit (BIC) in the two support- Liam Lawson and Juri Vips. Sprints on the Satur- current overall championship ing championships that will be There will certainly be a fierce day of the Grand Prix leader JB Simmenauer from taking to the track as part of challenge with MP Motorsport’s France; Bandar Alesayi and Fa- the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain F2 cars in action at BIC during a race (file photo) Richard Verschoor and Lirim followed by a 32-lap had Algosaibi from Saudi Arabia; Grand Prix this coming week- end are now available for all round of its 2021 campaign this Zendeli in the fray, along with Feature on the Sun- Jesse van Kuijk, Daan van Kuijk, end. vaccinated or COVID-19 recov- weekend and the 24 competing David Beckmann and Guilherme day Lucas Groeneveld and Steven The sporting and social ex- ered individuals. They are being F2 drivers will be looking to put Samaia for Charouz Racing Sys- van Rhee from the Netherlands; travaganza kicks off the 2021 FIA sold at a single discounted price on a show for the top flight’s tem, Roy Nissany and Marcus The first two meetings also Maximilan Werndl and Richard Formula 1 World Championship, of BD100 across stands for the teams, which they one day hope Armstrong for Dams, and Gi- took place at BIC, both support- Wagner from Germany; Robert and F1 isn’t the only series that three-day event. to join. As F1’s leading feeder anluca Petecof and Ralph Bo- ing Bahrain’s F1 double-header Sulma from the Czech Republic; will be thrilling fans. Comprehensive measures will series, many of the young tal- schung for Campos Racing. in 2020. Two more races are to Saul Hack from South Africa; The FIA Formula 2 Champi- be in place at the circuit at all ents are already test or reserve The F2 field is rounded off by be held, each over 11 laps, with and Ayhancan Guven from Tur- onship featuring motorsport’s times to ensure spectators can drivers with some F1 teams, and HWA Racelab’s Matteo Nannini the first on the Saturday of this key. future stars, plus the Porsche enjoy the excitement of F1 in a they are eager to make the step and Alessio Deledda, and Tri- year’s event followed by the sec- A strong field of 10 others will Sprint Challenge Middle East safe environment. up and join some of F2’s other dent’s Bent Viscaal and Marino ond on the Sunday.