Track Record - F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2019

track record FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2019

FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

The Singapore Grand Prix™ is a truly special race, in a place that’s like nowhere else on earth. It stands out as the only regular night race on the Formula One™ calendar. It also takes place on a floodlit street circuit, where sharp twists and turns are plentiful.

The fact that said street circuit is in the city-state of Singapore - where giant vertical gardens stand alongside huge futuristic skyscrapers - only adds to the allure. In other words, it’s a must-visit for F1™ fans and travel-lovers alike.

DON'T MISS THE UNMISSABLE? BOOK NOW www.gptraveller.co.uk + 44 (0) 114 345 1977

THE TRACK RECORD FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 31 MARCH 2019

Editor Rob Burley Photography James Moy www.jamesmoy.com Editorial Giles Richards (Guardian News & Media Ltd) Contact www.trackrecordmagazine.com/contact Instagram traveller.rob

This publication is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. F1, FORMULA ONE, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing B.V.

THE TRACK RECORD

THE GRID Charles Leclerc pips Sebastian Vettel to Bahrain F1 pole on Ferrari’s day 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI

44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES

77 Valtteri Bottas MERCEDES

33 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING HONDA

20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI

55 Carlos Sainz MCLAREN RENAULT

7 Kimi Räikkönen ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI

16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI

4 Lando Norris MCLAREN RENAULT

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

3 Daniel Ricciardo RENAULT

8 Romain Grosjean HAAS FERRARI

23 Alexander Albon SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA

10 Pierre Gasly RED BULL RACING HONDA

11 Sergio Perez RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES

26 Daniil Kvyat SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA

99 Antonio Giovinazzi ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI

27 Nico Hulkenberg RENAULT

18 Lance Stroll RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES

63 George Russell WILLIAMS MERCEDES

88 Robert Kubica WILLIAMS MERCEDES

gptraveller.co.uk

Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, his first of the season, but it was a win the British driver largely inherited after a heartbreaking mechanical problem for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

The Ferrari driver had a marvellous run under the floodlights of the Sakhir Circuit from pole and looked on course to win until an energy recovery system failure severely curtailed his pace. He finished third. Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, was second while Sebastian Vettel could manage only fifth after a spin late in the race. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fourth.

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

Leclerc took the extra point for the fastest lap, and

It had been a tense and at times dramatic

Hamilton’s win puts him just one point behind

encounter and Hamilton expressed his sympathy for

Bottas who leads the world championship.

Leclerc. “It was extremely unfortunate for Charles,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Ferrari looked strong across the meeting and Leclerc had done everything required for the 21-year-old to take his debut win until Ferrari’s power unit proved fallible. Hamilton, up against it all weekend, skilfully ensured he remained in the mix throughout and drove a very strong race, including pressuring Vettel into an error.

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

This is Hamilton’s 74th career victory and the third

The opening laps feature some furious vying for

time he has won the Bahrain Grand Prix, having won

position. Vettel made a lightning start to jump

for Mercedes in 2014 and 2015.He was disappointed

Leclerc who was slow off the line into the first corner,

with his second place to Bottas at the opening

and the Monegasque, struggling for grip, also fell to

round in Australia, when he lost the lead to the Finn

Bottas who had already passed Hamilton and made

off the start and then suffered damage to the floor of

it to second. The Finn locked up on lap two, however,

his car.

lost the place to Leclerc and Hamilton promptly came back at his team-mate to retake third.

Mercedes had been outpaced by Ferrari across practice and qualifying, with Hamilton noting his

With the front runners settled the Ferraris opened

team were lacking straightline speed to the Scuderia

up a two-second gap to Hamilton but Leclerc was in

in particular. He was pleased to come within three-

no mood to play second fiddle to Vettel. Having

hundredths of Vettel’s time in qualifying and had

chased the German down, he had found the grip he

been optimistic that he could challenge in race

needed and swept past to retake the lead on lap six.

pace, but he and Mercedes know that this was an

Vettel fought back but Leclerc held his nerve and

unlikely win.

the place. It was a marvellous display of confidence and commitment from the young driver.

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

Hamilton was able to stay with them, holding his gap to the front to three seconds and closing hard on Vettel. Leclerc and Hamilton pitted on lap 14, with Hamilton opting for the soft rubber and committing to a two-stop, while Leclerc took the medium, retaining the faint possibility of making it a one-stop race.

Vettel pitted one lap later for the medium tyre but Hamilton on fresher rubber had made the most of the undercut and when Vettel emerged the British driver had taken second place. The differing strategies left the race intriguingly poised but Hamilton was soon struggling with a lack of grip due to rear tyre wear and was chased down by Vettel who passed him with ease on lap 23.

In front Leclerc was in command, stretching his lead to eight seconds by the halfway mark. Ferrari appeared in control. With the decision to take the soft rubber having not paid off Hamilton made his second stop on lap 35 to take the medium tyre.

Vettel followed him a lap later and then Leclerc.

gptraveller.co.uk

With the Mercedes working the medium rubber far better, Hamilton went at Vettel round the outside of turn four and Vettel, attempting to defend, lost the rear and spun. It damaged his tyres and front wing which subsequently came off and he was forced to pit, dropping down the field. It appeared to be an unforced error, similar to the ones that were so costly last season.

The drama was far from over, however, when Leclerc, with the win seemingly in his hands, lost his turbo energy recovery on lap 46 and was easily caught and passed by Hamilton on lap 48, from where he went on to take the flag under a late safety car.

Lando Norris was an excellent sixth for McLaren in front of Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo. Pierre Gasly in the Red Bull was in eighth, with Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon also impressive in ninth. Racing Point’s Sergio Pérez was 10th.

gptraveller.co.uk

LUXURY MONACO GRAND PRIX YACHT HOSPITALITY Thursday £550 per person Friday £400 per person**

There is no better way to view this demanding street race than from the deck of our 45 metre luxury yacht, moored in a prime Zone 1 berth.

Our yacht packages include outstanding hospitality from the moment guests step on board our luxury Wajer tenders.

• Complimentary bar with premium brand Champagne • Gourmet buffet cuisine throughout the day • Sunday pre race Q&A with F1™ celebrity • Superb views of the world’s most famous street circuit

Saturday £1,000 per person Sunday £2,100 per person Saturday & Sunday £3,100 per person

BOOK NOW

**Half day of hospitality, up to & including lunch

www.gptraveller.co.uk + 44 (0) 114 345 1977

THE TRACK RECORD

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

SECOND 77 Valtteri Bottas MERCEDES

"This was not an easy race, the car was very

which was a welcome change for me

difficult to drive and the conditions were very

personally after all the bad luck I experienced

tricky with the gusty winds today which made

last year. On the other hand our car was very

the car very unpredictable. I had a good start

reliable which ultimately won us the race

and managed to get to P2, but in the next lap

today. It was a tough race for Charles, but he

the wind caught me up going into Turn 1, so I

did a great job all weekend and I’m sure his

lost the position again and ultimately fell back

time will come. We’re leaving Bahrain with lots

to fourth after a battle with Lewis. After that it

of points but also a lot of work to do for China."

was actually a relatively lonely race for me at points, I didn’t see anybody; but I think it was probably very exciting from the outside with many unexpected moments. Ferrari were very strong again in the race as they were all weekend. But luck was on our side today,

gptraveller.co.uk

THIRD 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI

“It’s part of motorsport, we know that. Sometimes it’s not your day to win and today wasn’t ours. In the final part of the race we had an issue with the power unit and I had to slow down. It’s a shame because the race seemed to me to be under control. The team is disappointed and I am disappointed but there are a lot of positives to take home from this weekend. They gave me an amazing car and that is very much to their credit. The car was very easy to drive and was very good. These things happen in motorsport: we took the best out of it anyway. It’s my first podium even if I’m not enjoying it as much as I wanted. It’s life, it happens, we’ll come back stronger”.

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

FOURTH 33 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING HONDA

“I think we maximised the result today and it

We still have a lot of things to learn about the

was another good point’s score. To finish fourth

car so we will go back to the factory,

was not too bad as we struggled with pace and

understand what happened here and continue

rear grip, especially with the high winds. I was

to try and close the gap in China. This just

sliding around a lot so it was not easy and I just

wasn’t our weekend.”

had to manage it, but I don’t think we could have done a lot differently. I drove to the limit of the car, in Australia it was better but here it was pretty difficult. We were almost on the podium today but it would have been down to luck as we didn’t have the true pace and really deserve it. Anyway, it was more unfortunate for Charles, but at least he’s still on the podium and I’m not too disappointed with fourth.

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

FIFTH 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI

“Not the race we wanted. We started first and

I spun. In doing so, I damaged the tyres so

second and we didn’t finish there. A

much that I had quite a lot of vibrations, which

disappointing evening. I had a good start but

eventually led to the failure of the front wing. It

already halfway through the first lap I realised

was Charles’ race today, he got very unlucky. I

that the car was extremely difficult to drive. I

am sorry for him and for the team”.

think Charles struggled less as he had no difficulties in passing me. It was quite tough out there. Then we lost P2 at the pitstop but came back. In the second stint on the medium tyres maybe it was a bit better but overall we didn’t have the pace we should have had today. While battling with Lewis I made a mistake at turn 4, which is one of the trickiest corners on the track. I suddenly lost the car and

gptraveller.co.uk

OWN A PIECE OF F1 HISTORY SHOP ONLINE AT WWW.VICTORYMONDAY.COM

THE TRACK RECORD

SIXTH 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN RENAULT

“I’m really happy and pleased to have scored

“The pace after that was really strong. I caught

my first points but also for McLaren after all of

up pretty quickly. I struggled a bit in the DRS

the team’s hard work over the winter. I had a

train that formed but as soon as someone lost

good start: a good launch, good pull-away but

DRS, I could get them. I maybe struggled a

then some wheel-spin. I was blocked going

little in the final stint but managed to stay

into Turn One, then was on the outside of

ahead of Kimi. From my side, P6 is a really

another car and we touched. I went off and

good job!”

through the gravel, losing quite a few places.

gptraveller.co.uk

SEVENTH 7 Kimi Räikkönen ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI

THE TRACK RECORD

EIGHTH 10 Pierre Gasly RED BULL RACING HONDA

“It was quite a difficult race and I’m still not

points, and now we just need to find the areas

completely comfortable with the car. As soon

we can improve on. We will do the work and I’ll

as I try to push, I struggle a lot with the rear

do anything I can to arrive stronger in China.”

and the traction. For sure, I need to see what I can improve to get the maximum out of the car and work with the engineers to see what we can do to make me feel more confident, because at the moment I feel I cannot really push. I need to make an effort and adapt, because each car is different, and I will work with the team to find a set-up which fits my driving style better. Overall, I think there are also some positives today. After the start the car felt better, I managed to finish inside the

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

NINTH 23 Alexander Albon SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA

“That was a busy race - I felt like I was always

It was so tricky with the wind out there and it

fighting with someone at some point, there

made the car unpredictable, but we were quite

was always something to do! I didn’t have the

strong in the race, it’s just a shame about the

best start as I was a bit shy into the first corner,

start. It was a challenge to overtake because

but after that, I put my head down and got on

when you get close to another car the tyres

with it. We had a good strategy and decent

overheat and you get a bit stuck. However, I

pace on the prime tyre. In the end, we got a bit

enjoyed myself out there and it was good to

lucky with the retirements, but I’ll take it!

get that experience. I’m very happy to pick up my first points in Formula 1 and I hope we can carry this pace into China.”

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

TENTH 11 Sergio Perez RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES

“It’s good to pick up my first point of the season. It was an unpredictable race and in that sense it’s a nice surprise. We got a bit lucky with both Renaults retiring, but at the same time the Safety Car didn’t help me because I was closing on Albon and I lost the opportunity to overtake him for ninth place. I made a really good start and gained a few positions, but I couldn’t defend my position for long. Then, we had an issue with the brakes getting too hot and I had to pit much earlier than planned to remove some debris blocking the brake ducts. Considering everything that happened in the race we can be pleased to pick up a point.”

gptraveller.co.uk

FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

If the final race of the F1™ season is also one of the most exciting, then it’s no surprise everyone wants a ticket for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™.

The Abu Dhabi weekend is special for lots more reasons. It’s the only Grand Prix™ staged in twilight, when the cars gleam in the low sun over beautiful Yas Island. Then there’s Yas Island itself – a place devoted to leisure and entertainment, full of fun and thrilling destinations. Not to mention Ferrari World Abu Dhabi!

In other words, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™ is well worth the trip

BOOK NOW

www.gptraveller.co.uk + 44 (0) 114 345 1977

THE TRACK RECORD

PADDOCK CAM

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

gptraveller.co.uk

THE TRACK RECORD

gptraveller.co.uk

FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO FULLY INCLUSIVE TRAVEL PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW

BOOK NOW

GRANDSTAND VIEWING

LUXURY YACHT HOSPITALTY

SHANGRI-LA TERRACE

FAIRMONT HAIRPIN

www.gptraveller.co.uk + 44 (0) 114 345 1977