5 trivia facts about the Bahrain Formula 1 GP

2/27/2024

 The Formula 1 season opens with a GP that debuted 20 years ago and site of recent testing.

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The Bahrain GP marks the inaugural event of the 75th Formula 1 World Championship. Compared to the first edition of the World Championship, the competition has changed significantly, as shown by the calendar: in 1950, there were only 7 GPs, all held in Europe, with the exception of the Indianapolis 500. This year's championship calendar consists of 24 rounds, many of which are in Asia.



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The GP data

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According to Brembo technicians, the 5,412-meter-long Bahrain International Circuit falls into the category of circuits that are highly demanding on the brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it has earned a difficulty index of 4, thanks to the presence of 4 Hard category braking zones and 3 Medium ones, which account for 18% of the lap time spent braking, in addition to an average deceleration of 3.9 g.

 

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The importance of testing


On this track, the 10 Formula 1 teams spent three days last week collecting valuable data on the performance and reliability of the new cars. Brembo, on the other hand, has been conducting different types of tests in recent months, so as to have braking components that guarantee performance, durability, and consistent performance over time. In fact, the Brembo Racing facility includes a dynamic bench that reproduces a Formula 1 corner, including the suspensions and cooling system, and subjects the braking system to the same stresses it undergoes during a GP. The simulations are carried out with reference to all the circuits of the championship, simulating both the sequence and intensity of all the braking phases of a GP.

 

The toughest corner

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The toughest corner of the Bahrain International Circuit for the braking system is the first one because the cars arrive there after a 1.1 km straight: the cars need the brakes to slow down from 313 km/h to 75 km/h in just 122 meters. To achieve this, drivers brake for 2.86 seconds, exerting a load of 129 kg on the brake pedal while the braking power is 2,101 kW.


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The champion


Turn 1 of the Bahrain International Circuit is named after Michael Schumacher, the absolute dominator of the inaugural GP held on this track in 2004: with the Ferrari F2004 equipped with carbon discs, calipers, pads, and Brembo brake pumps, the German achieved pole position, set the fastest lap of the race, led for 50 of the 57 laps, and won with a 1’’367 margin over his teammate Rubens Barrichello.

 

Music at the GP


To celebrate 20 years since the first edition of the Bahrain GP, the organizers have hired two internationally renowned disc jockeys and producers: on March 1st, Zedd will perform, a Grammy winner in 2014 for the hit Clarity and number 1 in the US Dance with the album True Colors. The following day will feature Diplo, who won two Grammys in 2016 with Skrillex and a third in 2019.