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Verstappen Anticipates Tough Challenge at Bahrain Grand Prix
Max Verstappen’s recent triumph at the Japanese Grand Prix against the McLaren drivers has set the stage for a different challenge as the Formula 1 circus heads to Bahrain. Despite his victory, Verstappen expresses a stark awareness of the difficulties that the Bahrain circuit, known for its high tire degradation, will pose for Red Bull.
The flexibility of McLaren’s MCL39 in managing tire wear has garnered attention, particularly following its strong performance during the pre-season testing in Bahrain. Observations indicated that the car could gain an average of approximately 0.4 seconds per lap during longer stints compared to its competitors, primarily due to its superior tire management capabilities.
At Suzuka, the low degradation levels worked in Red Bull’s favor, minimizing the performance gap to McLaren. The recent resurfacing of the Suzuka track resulted in reduced tire wear, with performance being limited mainly by thermal degradation, which did not significantly alter race dynamics.
In contrast, Bahrain’s track conditions are fundamentally different. Established in 2004, the circuit has retained its original surface, leading to higher tire stress due to rough terrain and elevated temperatures, even during nighttime races. These conditions will require drivers to judiciously manage their tire life over longer stints, posing a considerable challenge even with the hardest Pirelli tire compounds, the C1-3 series.
Verstappen predicts a “significant” disadvantage against McLaren in the upcoming race and noted that even during the earlier Suzuka race, he faced challenges with tire preservation compared to Lando Norris, although that difference was less apparent due to the latter’s inability to overtake.
“It will be more severe. In Australia, we faced issues with overheating, and the same occurred in China,” said Verstappen, highlighting past experiences that underscore his concerns for the Bahrain race.
He further elaborated on the challenges at Suzuka, indicating, “I was just driving at my own pace, and while Lando was close behind me toward the end of that first stint, a drop in track temperature aided us somewhat.”
Regarding the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen mentioned, “Here, it’s going to be warm. While we’ll be racing at night, which offers some slight cooling, the conditions will still be challenging due to the aggressive tarmac.”
Historically, the Bahrain race has seen many drivers opt for a two-stop strategy, though some who found themselves out of contention attempted to salvage their races with three stops. This year, the Pirelli C2 and C3 compounds are slightly softer than those used previously, which may influence strategies.
Pirelli’s pre-race analysis suggests that the C2 compound could serve as a robust race tire, potentially enabling some teams to venture into a one-stop strategy—contingent on how well they manage thermal degradation and blistering during the race. The track conditions are expected to be warmer than those experienced during testing, adding another layer of complexity to tire management.
As the teams prepare for the race, increased tire pressures have been implemented, raised by 0.5 psi compared to the pre-season tests, with the aim of limiting wear during the event. The competitive landscape on-track may continue to evolve, particularly in light of the changes seen since the pre-season assessments in February.
Source
www.autosport.com