WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 12 Mercedes to give ‘best shot’ in German manufacturers vow to go all out despite already securing double world titles with three races to go in 2020 F1 World Championship

and the way in which he did it was spectacular. “In general, it was a difficult Toto Wolff and celebrate on the podium at the Turkish Grand weekend for us as a team and a We look ahead to Prix earlier this month big challenge for everyone, but Bahrain and returning previous Grand Prix in Istanbul. Lewis did an outstanding job to a familiar circuit. 2020’s final three But Wolff says that they will to come from sixth on the grid It always presents an races• include the still be giving it their “best shot” to take the victory and he has interesting challenge, at Bahrain International Circuit cemented his position among because of the variation Kingdom’s F1 double- (BIC) as they look to finish the the all-time best sportspeople in track conditions and header—starting with 2020 campaign on a high note. in the world. temperatures between the Bahrain Grand Prix— “Both titles may have already “We had some mixed fortunes been decided, but we’re still go- as it was a tough weekend for the sessions and the championship- ing to give it our best shot,” Wolff Valtteri [Bottas], but we know TOTO WOLFF finale in Abu Dhabi said. how resilient and strong he is. MERCEDES TEAM PRINCIPAL “We witnessed something tru- I know he will bounce back TDT | Manama ly remarkable at the last race in stronger in these final three rac- peratures between the sessions. Turkey with Lewis winning his es.” Wolff said that Mercedes are “FP1 and FP3 are held in the Lewis Hamilton on his way to victory at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix here will be no relaxing seventh drivers’ championship, looking forward to racing at BIC warmer daytime temperatures, for Formula 1 champions and will be hoping to continue but FP2, qualifying and the race TMercedes this weekend their strong performances at the take place in the cooler evening Mercedes at the Bahrain Grand Prix at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand desert track. climate. This makes it challeng- Starts Wins Podiums Poles Fastest Laps DNF Prix, as team principal Toto The Austrian noted that the ing to set up the car and gather Wolff says that they will contin- Bahrain Grand Prix poses a the right information when it Mercedes 9 4 12 5 4 0 ue to keep their foot on the gas, unique challenge for F1 teams, counts.” Hamilton 12 3 8 2 1 0 KNOW WHAT despite having already secured with sessions taking place both Mercedes have won four of the Bottas 7 0 3 1 1 0 both of the season’s world titles. during the day and at night, last six races at BIC, including 2020’s final three races in - which makes for varying con- thrice for Hamilton in 2014, 2015 clude the Kingdom’s F1 dou - Mercedes have won ditions. and 2019 and the other for Nico end from December 4 to 6 at BIC lines in place issued by the Min- ble-header—starting with the four of the last six “We’ve enjoyed some strong Rosberg in 2016. Bottas was the with a completely different track istry of Youth and Sports Affairs Bahrain Grand Prix—and the races at BIC, including performances in Bahrain in the runner-up in last year’s race. layout, offering the sport’s com- and the Ministry of Health. Al- championship-finale in Abu thrice for Hamilton in past and it’s always a track that The F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand petitors an all-new challenge though both events are closed Dhabi. produces interesting racing,” Prix 2020 marks the 15th of 17 and fans an additional specta- to the general public, frontline The German manufacturers 2014, 2015 and 2019 Wolff said. rounds in this year’s F1 World cle. Both races are being held health workers and first re - now have little to fight for after and the other for Nico “We look ahead to Bahrain and Championship. It will be the at night under the brilliance of sponders, along with members already sealing the constructors’ Rosberg in 2016. Bot- returning to a familiar circuit. It front-end of the first-ever F1 BIC’s state-of-the-art floodlights. of their immediate families, have crown two races ago in Imola, tas was the runner-up always presents an interesting double-header in the Kingdom. The Kingdom’s F1 dou - been invited to join. and Lewis Hamilton capturing in last year’s race challenge, because of the varia- The Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix ble-header will be taking place For more information, visit the drivers’ world title at the tion in track conditions and tem- takes place the very next week- with all precautionary guide- bahraingp.com. Mercedes F1 team with F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix fact file » B ahrain International Circuit’s complex is 9 and the track drops away at the apex. All of » When it comes to set-up, the focus is very much located in the middle of the desert on a former these factors cause the front-left tyre to go light on tuning the car for low and medium-speed camel farm and features 1,120 palm trees. and increase the risk of a lock-up. The balance corners, because the high-speed sections of » Despite the track’s rural location, surrounded by is on a knife-edge through this sequence, as track are easily taken flat-out. Mechanical grip sandy desert, the sand does not present the cars drivers battle cornering and braking, which is is an important area in Bahrain, to propel the with any major issues and the circuit surface why there are often mistakes at this point on cars out of the slow turns. can clean up very quickly. the track. » Bahrain International Circuit has the joint- » - 495 lighting posts are used to illuminate the » Because FP1 and FP3 are run in daylight, they second highest gear change figure per lap of the track for FP2, Qualifying and the 57-lap race. hold little value when it comes to car balance 2020 season, with drivers shifting gear 58 times. and set-up work for Qualifying and the race, This is behind Sochi and tied with Abu Dhabi. » - Bahrain International Circuit has one of the which take place at night. However, FP1 and FP3 roughest surfaces of the season, which can lead • The Bahrain Grand Prix is always punishing on can still prove useful for work on other items to higher tyre degradation as a result. the brakes, with seven braking events and three such as testing new parts or understanding the of those being classified as ‘heavy’ by engineers, » Turn 10 is one of the trickiest corners because tyres. meaning the driver is braking for 0.4 seconds or it has a long, combined corner-entry that gets » FP2 is a crucial session for the teams, in order to longer, with 4G or more. The Sakhir Grand Prix, tighter towards the apex, which is blind over a properly prepare for the race weekend’s main which will be around the Bahrain International crest. Drivers begin to apply the brakes while events. Circuit’s Outer Track, is expected to be even also negotiating the wide corner arc of Turn tougher on the brakes. Porsche Sprint Challenge ME kicks off new season at Bahrain GP TDT | Manama driving talent an opportunity Mohammed Al Khalifa. Both The championship’s GT4 class to realise their potential while Bahrainis will be competing in features six racers on the grid, he Porsche Sprint Challenge enhancing personal circuit ex- the championship’s GT3 class, including Fawaz Algosaibi, Ban- TMiddle East, the region’s perience. It has now established with Shaikh Jaber driving in the dar Alireza and Bandar Alesayi leading one-make champion- itself as the region’s most pop- Am category and Shaikh Ali rac- from Saudi Arabia, Leo Willert ship that is based at Bahrain In- ular circuit championship for ing in the Pro-Am. and Freddy Fast from Austria, ternational Circuit (BIC), will drivers and fans alike, featuring Other GT3 drivers include and Franz Dziwok from Poland. be holding the first round of its real racing and genuine rivalries Jesse Van Kuijk from the Neth- This weekend’s action in the 2020/2021 season this weekend on the track. erlands, Julian Hanses and Rich- Porsche Sprint Challenge will in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Participants battle it out in the ard Wagner from Germany, JB include two Practice sessions on Air Bahrain Grand Prix. powerful and dynamic Porsche Simmenauer of France and Jax- Friday at 11.25am and 7.55pm, re- The Porsche Sprint Challenge 911 GT3 Cup cars. A highly com- on Evans from New Zealand in spectively. Qualifying will then joins Formula 2 as part of the petitive grid of 17 drivers hailing the Pro category; Daan Van Kui- be held on Saturday at 11am, set- action in Sakhir. from all over the world is set to jk and Lucas Groeneveld from ting the starting positions for Launched in 2009, series com- take part this weekend at BIC. the Netherlands in the Pro-Am the round’s first 12-lap race later petition returns for a landmark Among them is the Team Bah- category, and Eddy Waldhier that afternoon at 3.50pm. Race 11th campaign. It was created to rain pair of Shaikh Jaber bin Ali and Robert Sulma from Germa- two will then be held on Sunday give the region’s home-grown Action from last season Al Khalifa and Shaikh Ali bin ny in the Am field. at 2.20pm.

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