2012 Bahrain Grand Prix.

**Swami** · 04-19-2012, 07:15 PM

Bahrain Grand Prix: Force India car flees petrol bomb protest
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer Force India team members were forced to flee as petrol bombs were hurled over their vehicle on their way back from the Bahrain Grand Prix track.

The four mechanics in a 4x4 were caught in the middle of an incident as police clashed with protesters.

Some tear gas fired by police entered the car, before the driver escaped through a gap in the flames on the road.

No Force India staff were hurt but two team members have asked to return home.

Analysis
Dan Roan
BBC sports news correspondent in Bahrain
This circuit in the desert is a cocoon, shielded from the realities of this divided island. Publicly, the drivers obediently follow the FIA's orders, say the right things, and prepare to race. But Force India's traumatic experience last night has sparked a fresh sense of unease and tension among the teams. Some I've spoken to are angry with Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt for making guarantees over safety that now appear hollow. The expectancy is that the unrest will escalate before Sunday, and most say privately that they would rather be somewhere else, despite the renewed reassurances of the circuit authorities.
Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg questioned the decision to stage the Bahrain race , telling BBC Sport: "We shouldn't have been put in this position".

But while team-mate Paul di Resta described Wednesday's incident as "uncomfortable" he is prepared to take part if Sunday's grand prix goes ahead.

The mechanics were travelling on the main highway from the track into the capital Manama when unrest spilled into the road.

After being stopped in the road for two to three minutes, the vehicle was able to move away as part of a larger group of traffic.

Anti-government protests in Bahrain caused the 2011 race to be called off, and a number of teams expected a similar outcome for this year's race amid security concerns.

Teams and drivers are known to have private misgivings about the wisdom of racing in Bahrain amid ongoing civil unrest, but none have so far publicly questioned the decision.

The four men were said to be emotional, upset and angry with organisers that the race had been allowed to go ahead.

"We obviously sympathise with their position, their families, and we make sure it happens," said Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley.

"But the team itself is behind the programme for Bahrain. There's no issues as far as we are concerned. We want to see it go ahead and we want to see it as part of a healing process hopefully for Bahrain."

Bahrain GP factfile
First held: 2004
Last race: 2010
2010 race winner: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
Circuit length: 5.412km
Laps: 57
2011 race: The event was called off because of anti-government protests in the Gulf state
2012 race: A number of teams expected this year's event to be cancelled, but the FIA said the race will go ahead.
Schedule: First practice begins at 0800 BST on Friday, Qualifying at 1200 BST on Saturday, Race at 1300 BST.
Bahrain circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani said: "They weren't targeted. They just happened to be there.

"I think it's unfortunate. It's an issue of timing. It could happen in any place in the world really, getting caught up in a riot or a fight or anything."

One of the Force India team who has asked to return home was in the 4x4, which ran into trouble around 20 minutes from the circuit on the outskirts of the capital Manama.

It came at the end of the first day of work for teams in Bahrain, where they have travelled for this weekend's race following assurances from the country's authorities and F1's governing body, the FIA, that the Gulf state is completely safe.

The MRS team entered in the supporting Porsche SuperCup series has withdrawn from the weekend's season-opening race, saying it could not guarantee the safety of staff.

A spokesman for the McLaren F1 team said: "We are putting in place the appropriate security measures, which we always do at every grand prix, in accordance with local requirements."

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Bahrain petrol bomb 'unfortunate' - race chief
Alzayani said there would "probably" be more violence, adding: "I can't comment on the degree of violence, whether it will be more or not - I don't have that kind of information.

"I don't think they will be within the track or close to the track, and I think they will be handled in the right way."

Alzayani said his advice to fans was "be vigilant".

"I would give them advice to enjoy the weekend," he said. "Don't be too worried and too distracted not to enjoy the weekend."

A statement from the circuit said the Force India group had driven through "an isolated incident involving a handful of illegal protestors acting violently towards police."

It added: "During this incident a Molotov cocktail landed in the vicinity of their vehicle.

"After approximately two minutes, the route was cleared and the vehicle carried on its journey. There were no casualties and eyewitness reports from the scene confirmed that their vehicle had not been targeted itself."

The Gulf Kingdom's ruling royal family are being pressured to improve human rights and make reforms by the majority Shia population, who accuse the minority ruling Sunnis of discrimination.

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Amnesty International says torture and ill-treatment continue in Bahrain
On Friday, the FIA said it was "satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula 1 world championship event", and the race will go ahead.

However, with practice in Sakhir due to start on Friday, protests have continued in Manama with more scheduled for near the circuit on Sunday's raceday.

The Foreign Office said it would not be advising British fans to avoid travelling to the grand prix, although it was concerned about the unrest.

An all-party for group of MPs has written to F1 sponsors and urged them to boycott the event.

Some television broadcasters have decided against attending this year's race, but it is set to be shown in the UK.

Sky Sports refused to comment, while a spokesman for BBC Sport - which is due to screen highlights - said: "As the race has been officially sanctioned by the FIA we will cover the event as part of our contractual obligations.

"We take staff safety very seriously and continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground."

Swami

**Swami** · 04-19-2012, 07:15 PM

I don't know if F1 should be there or not - the teams are getting a bit uneasy about it.

Swami

**Swami** · 04-20-2012, 07:11 PM

Nico Rosberg heads Mark Webber in second practice
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was in impressive form in practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix - nearly half a second clear of the field.

The Mercedes driver, who was on pole by a similar margin in China last weekend before scoring his maiden victory, headed Red Bull's Mark Webber.

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“If you don't do your fastest lap time on your first run you don't get the time. The tyre gets so hot that you can't do it again”

5 live analyst Jaime Alguersuari
World champion Sebastian Vettel was next, from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

The second Mercedes of Michael Schumacher was fifth, ahead of Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button.

But Hamilton, who set the pace in the first session in the morning, was nearly a second slower than Rosberg's fastest time of one minute 32.816 seconds.

Webber was 0.446secs behind the German, with team-mate Vettel a further 0.263secs adrift.

Webber suffered a failure in his KERS power-boost system, which would have cost him about 0.3secs a lap in ultimate pace.

The session was overshadowed by ongoing concerns about the wisdom of racing in Bahrain this weekend amid continuing civil unrest.

Force India chose not to run in the second session so their team members could return to their hotel before dark.

That decision came after four mechanics were briefly caught in a clash between protestors with petrol bombs and police firing tear gas on their way back from the track on Wednesday.

And on Friday it emerged that a group of Sauber mechanics also encountered trouble on their way back to the capital Manama on Thursday.

The crown prince of Bahrain addressed the media immediately after the second practice session.

He said: "We are not trying to say we are perfect. We are a real country with real issues. I genuinely believe this race is a force for good. It unites many people from many different backgrounds under the roof of Formula 1."

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has told BBC Sport that it was "absolutely 100%" the right decision to race in Bahrain.

He had said at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend that he would be "surprised" if anyone from F1 encountered any trouble in the Gulf state.

McLaren appeared to be struggling in the second session. Hamilton, the championship leader after finishing third in the first three races of the season, told his engineers the team would have to "go back to the settings we used this morning".

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Highlights - Hamilton sets Bahrain pace
And Button, who was 0.499secs slower than Hamilton, added over the team radio: "I'm feeling massively no grip. Understeer at high speed and then oversteer on corner exit."

Ferrari were even further behind. Fernando Alonso, third in the championship thanks largely to his unexpected victory in the rain in Malaysia, was eighth fastest and 1.633 seconds off the pace.

The Spaniard had trouble making the softer of the two tyre options last more than one lap.

Schumacher may have been closer to Rosberg but he did not manage to get a clean lap when he ran the softer of the two tyres.

BBC 5 live analyst Jaime Alguersuari said: "Michael Schumacher tried one flying lap on the soft tyres, but hit traffic. Then he tried it again and was one second slower than his team-mate.

"It just shows that if you don't do your fastest lap time on your first run you don't get the time. The tyre gets so hot that you can't do it again."

Swami

**Swami** · 04-20-2012, 07:13 PM

Nico Rosberg heads Mark Webber in second practice
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was in impressive form in practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix - nearly half a second clear of the field.

The Mercedes driver, who was on pole by a similar margin in China last weekend before scoring his maiden victory, headed Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Continue reading the main story
“If you don't do your fastest lap time on your first run you don't get the time. The tyre gets so hot that you can't do it again”

5 live analyst Jaime Alguersuari
World champion Sebastian Vettel was next, from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

The second Mercedes of Michael Schumacher was fifth, ahead of Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button.

But Hamilton, who set the pace in the first session in the morning, was nearly a second slower than Rosberg's fastest time of one minute 32.816 seconds.

Webber was 0.446secs behind the German, with team-mate Vettel a further 0.263secs adrift.

Webber suffered a failure in his KERS power-boost system, which would have cost him about 0.3secs a lap in ultimate pace.

The session was overshadowed by ongoing concerns about the wisdom of racing in Bahrain this weekend amid continuing civil unrest.

Force India chose not to run in the second session so their team members could return to their hotel before dark.

That decision came after four mechanics were briefly caught in a clash between protestors with petrol bombs and police firing tear gas on their way back from the track on Wednesday.

And on Friday it emerged that a group of Sauber mechanics also encountered trouble on their way back to the capital Manama on Thursday.

The crown prince of Bahrain addressed the media immediately after the second practice session.

He said: "We are not trying to say we are perfect. We are a real country with real issues. I genuinely believe this race is a force for good. It unites many people from many different backgrounds under the roof of Formula 1."

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has told BBC Sport that it was "absolutely 100%" the right decision to race in Bahrain.

He had said at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend that he would be "surprised" if anyone from F1 encountered any trouble in the Gulf state.

McLaren appeared to be struggling in the second session. Hamilton, the championship leader after finishing third in the first three races of the season, told his engineers the team would have to "go back to the settings we used this morning".

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Highlights - Hamilton sets Bahrain pace
And Button, who was 0.499secs slower than Hamilton, added over the team radio: "I'm feeling massively no grip. Understeer at high speed and then oversteer on corner exit."

Ferrari were even further behind. Fernando Alonso, third in the championship thanks largely to his unexpected victory in the rain in Malaysia, was eighth fastest and 1.633 seconds off the pace.

The Spaniard had trouble making the softer of the two tyre options last more than one lap.

Schumacher may have been closer to Rosberg but he did not manage to get a clean lap when he ran the softer of the two tyres.

BBC 5 live analyst Jaime Alguersuari said: "Michael Schumacher tried one flying lap on the soft tyres, but hit traffic. Then he tried it again and was one second slower than his team-mate.

"It just shows that if you don't do your fastest lap time on your first run you don't get the time. The tyre gets so hot that you can't do it again."

Swami

**Swami** · 04-20-2012, 07:13 PM

Bahrain Grand Prix: Crown prince backs race despite protests
Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa says the weekend's grand prix will go ahead despite protests.

"Cancelling the race just powers extremists. Having it allows us to build bridges and celebrate our nation as an idea that's positive," he said.

Unrest in the Gulf state has led to calls for the race to be cancelled for the second year running.

Analysis
Jackie Stewart,
speaking to BBC Sport's Dan Roan
"It would have been wrong not to go ahead with the race because it would mean in the future when there is any unrest, you would have to do the same thing. I was here in the dark, my sons went to various villages because they wanted to see what was going on, my wife was out shopping. There is so much unrest in other parts of the Middle East, far beyond anything you're seeing here."
On Friday, thousands attended a protest in Budaiya, demanding an end to the crackdown on dissent.

Riot police initially showed restraint, but when a group of about 100 protesters broke away and attempted to reach the site of the former Pearl Roundabout - the focus of last year's pro-democracy demonstrations - they fired stun grenades and tear gas.

The overnight demonstrations called for the "overthrow of the regime" and the release of the human rights and political activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike in prison for more than 70 days in protest at the life sentence he received from a military tribunal in June.

Earlier in the day, the Force India team missed Friday's second practice session because they wanted to return to their hotel before dark.

Four of their mechanics narrowly avoided being hit by petrol bombs during a clash between protesters and police on Wednesday.

On Thursday, a bus containing 12 mechanics from the Sauber team took to the hard shoulder after encountering a burning bottle in the road and seeing masked men running towards their lane. No-one was hurt in either incident.

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Team bosses focus on racing
Several British politicians have called for the race to be cancelled while Amnesty International said "not much has changed" in Bahrain since last year's protests led to the deaths of more than 50 anti-government demonstrators.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a matter for Formula 1, but Labour leader Ed Milliband insisted it would send out the wrong signal if the grand prix went ahead at a time of protests over human rights abuses.

However, Prince Salman said he thought the race could be "a force for good".

"I think this race should continue because it is indeed a very big event for this country, important economically, socially," he said.

"It was only a few politicians who made those comments and it certainly doesn't represent the entire British political system."

The crown prince, flanked by F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, gave a media briefing at the track.

Ecclestone said: "We came here because this race asked to be put on the calendar. We're happy and delighted it was.

Bahrain GP factfile
First held: 2004
Last race: 2010
2010 race winner: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
Circuit length: 5.412km
Laps: 57
2011 race: The event was called off because of anti-government protests in the Gulf state
2012 race: A number of teams expected this year's event to be cancelled, but the FIA said the race will go ahead.
Schedule: Qualifying at 1200 BST on Saturday, race at 1300 BST on Sunday
"What happens in this country is nothing to do with us. This race has given the protesters an incredible platform for all you guys to talk to them.

"They say they talk about democracy, which is freedom of speech. They've had all the freedom in the world to talk."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said teams had been given assurances about their safety.

"With regard to security, we have received all the guarantees from the federation and the organiser and so far everything is under control. I don't feel we as teams are the target of the protesters and that is really important," he said.

"I would say there are two points. One there is the race, a sporting event, where we have to be focused as a team here in the paddock.

"Secondly, there is a political issue that is not really on our side to comment."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh added: "We're cautious, and we try to take the right precautions, but ultimately we're a race team. We're here to go motor racing and that's our number one priority."

Swami

**Swami** · 04-20-2012, 07:14 PM

If we can get through this weekend, I'd be surprised if F1 ever goes back to Bahrain.

Swami

**Swami** · 04-21-2012, 06:53 PM

Sebastian Vettel on pole in Bahrain ahead of Lewis Hamilton
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer World champion Sebastian Vettel took his and Red Bull's first pole position of 2012 ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The German, who out-qualified team-mate Mark Webber for the first time this year, was 0.098 seconds quicker than Hamilton, with Webber third.

McLaren's Jenson Button was fourth, ahead of Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Force India's Paul di Resta did not set a time and are ninth and 10th.

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“I'm happier with the way the car feels. We should be able to get the same kind of feeling and result on Sunday”

Sebastian Vettel
Both men preferred to save a set of tyres for the race because tyre life is expected to be a critical factor.

The same reason lies behind Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, whose team-mate Romain Grosjean is seventh, failing to make it into the top 10.

Raikkonen said he "could easily" have got into final qualifying but preferred to save a set of tyres for the race.

The chief beneficiary of all this strategic play was Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo, who qualified a stunning sixth, ahead of Grosjean and Sauber's Sergio Perez.

Rosberg's team-mate Michael Schumacher will start 17th after failing to get out of the first qualifying session.

Vettel has had a difficult start to the season, uncomfortable in Red Bull's new car, and before Bahrain his highest qualifying position was fifth.

But Red Bull's race pace has been strong and Vettel said he was optimistic of a good result in the grand prix.

"We should be better off in the race," he said. "Our race pace has proven to be consistent in the last couple of races.

"I'm happier with the way the car feels. We should be able to get the same kind of feeling and result on Sunday.

"I'm looking forward to the start and then I think it will be very tight. I think Nico [Rosberg] has been very strong all weekend and the Lotus guys can surprise.

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Watch Vettel's first pole lap of 2012
"In terms of race pace, I think everyone will be much closer together."

Vettel said his pole owed much to intense work by the team to understand better the car.

"We have been busy working on the car," he said, "trying to find the perfect solution and the right way to go forward. I don't think the boys had much sleep the last four races.

"It's very good to put the car on pole. The car felt much better all weekend. I was quite happy. It wasn't a smooth qualifying for us, nearly out in Q1, nearly out in Q2. It's great that we could beat Lewis."

Hamilton was happy with his second place, despite losing out to the German: "I'm definitely very happy with the job we've done, and the improved set-up.

"It was a bit close in Q1, but thank goodness we got through. It was probably our best qualifying session. We've just got to keep on pushing."

Webber, however, was surprised to have been in the top three. "Seb did a good lap. We are happy to be towards the front, after there was a big gap on Friday in particular. We are pretty surprised."

Bahrain circuit guide
Circuit length: 3.36 miles
Race distance: 191.53 miles
Laps: 57
Corners: 15 (6 left, 9 right)
Lap record: M Schumacher 1:30.252 in 2004
Schumacher was knocked out of qualifying with the very last lap of the first session by Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen.

Schumacher revealed that his DRS rear-wing overtaking aid, which boosts straight-line speed and of which use is free in qualifying, had failed.

"There was no need to go out again until it was fixed and then the time ran out," he said.

Kimi Raikkonen failed to make it into the top 10, and will start 11th, after team-mate Grosjean displaced him in the final seconds of the second session.

Ricciardo, who finished a career-best sixth in qualifying, said: "It's not always you have a day like this, so I can enjoy the moment, bearing in mind that it's Sunday that counts."

The controversy over the wisdom of racing in Bahrain in the middle of ongoing civil unrest continues to overshadow the weekend.

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Jean Todt interview in full
Jean Todt, the president of motorsport's governing body, has defended the decision to hold the race. His comments come after a protester was shot dead in clashes with riot police on Friday night in Bahrain.

The atmosphere in the paddock is muted in the wake of representatives of the Force India and Sauber teams encountering trouble on their way back from the track into the capital Manama on two different days leading up to the weekend.

Force India skipped the second practice session on Friday to ensure their staff could return from the circuit before dark, a decision made after F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone offered to stay with them as late as they wished and accompany them back to their hotel, either with or without a police escort.

Force India's cars did not appear on television coverage of qualifying on Saturday.

BBC Sports News correspondent Dan Roan reported that there was heavy security on the roads leading to the circuit as the Bahraini authorities attempt to ensure that unrest in the country does not affect their biggest international sporting event.

Swami

**Swami** · 04-21-2012, 06:54 PM

Not bad, second and fourth on the grid. Here's hoping for a good result tomorrow!

Swami

**Swami** · 04-22-2012, 06:41 PM

Sebastian Vettel beats Kimi Raikkonen to Bahrain GP win
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer World champion Sebastian Vettel took his first victory of 2012 in a close battle with Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver built an early lead from pole but was caught by the Finn, who started 11th, after half distance.

Bahrain GP facts
Track temperature: 29C
Air temperature: 27C
Ave wind speed: 3.3 metres per second
Humidity: 32%
Fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel (lap 41): 1 min 36.379 secs
Fastest Speeds:
Sector 1: Nico Hulkenburg 237kph (147mph)
Sector 2 : Jenson Button 264kph (164mph)
Sector 3 : Fernando Alonso 290kph (180mph)
Speed Trap: Nico Hulkenburg 318kph (198mph)
Vettel then pulled away after the final pit stops, despite Raikkonen's attempts to close him down.

Lotus's Romain Grosjean was third, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton finishing eighth and Jenson Button retiring.

Force India's Paul di Resta, doing a two-stop strategy in contrast to the three employed by the rest of the main contenders, drove an excellent, studied race to take sixth place.

The Scot was running fifth going into the final 10 laps but was helpless to defend from Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, who was on fresher tyres in the closing laps.

Di Resta seemed poised to lose a further place to Button, but the Briton's McLaren suffered a puncture with three laps to go and dropped out of the points, before retiring on the penultimate lap with a broken exhaust.

The Scot also just managed to hold off a challenge from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the closing laps.

Rosberg was investigated for possible dangerous driving in defending from both Hamilton and Alonso earlier in the race, but was cleared of any wrongdoing by the stewards.

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Vettel on Bahrain victory
Ferrari's Felipe Massa produced his strongest race of the season to take ninth, ahead of Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher, who battled up from 22nd on the grid.

The result means Vettel takes the championship lead, after starting the race in fifth place, while Hamilton has slipped down to second, ahead of Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber - who finished fourth in Bahrain - Button and Alonso.

Bahrain's Sakhir circuit is notorious for producing uninteresting races, but this was an exception, with a tense battle for the lead and several wheel-to-wheel scraps down the field.

Vettel stormed into the lead from pole, building a five-second lead after eight laps in the sort of performance that won him 11 races on his way to the title last year.

"It was an incredible race," said the German. "We had a very good start, which was crucial. I was able to pull away from the pack which turned out to be a good advantage because we always had to go on used tyres.

"Kimi was quick, and so was Romain. It was a difficult race. Once he was close, I thought he would have more than one shot, but in the end I was able to pull out of a gap."

Last six Bahrain GP winners
2012 - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2011 - Cancelled
2010 - Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
2009 - Jenson Button, Brawn
2008 - Felipe Massa, Ferrari
2007 - Felipe Massa, Ferrari
Raikkonen was judging his rise from 11th place on the grid to perfection, his low qualifying position a tactical ploy to ensure he had more sets of new tyres to use in a race that all teams expected to be dominated by tyre management in the high temperatures.

After 10 laps, Raikkonen was up to third place behind Vettel and Grosjean and he continued to close on the leading pair after they had all made their first pit stops.

He passed Grosjean on lap 24, and then began to close on Vettel, who he caught by lap 33.

But the Finn could not pass the Red Bull and after they stopped together for the final time on lap 39, Vettel eased away and Raikkonen could not hold him.

"It's always easy to say if afterwards, but in the end we were not fast enough," he said. "I had one chance to pass Sebastian but I chose the wrong side. I didn't get another chance. We gave ourselves a chance, but we didn't do it."

Did you know?
Vettel's victory means four different drivers have won the opening four races of a season for the first time since 2003.
The race provided a fascinating spectacle throughout, but it did little to distract from the main focus of the weekend - the wisdom or otherwise of deciding to hold the race in Bahrain in the midst of ongoing civil unrest.

Swami

**Swami** · 04-22-2012, 06:42 PM

The main thing is the race passed off without incident. But a disastrous race for McLaren - major improvements needed for Barcelona in two weeks' time.

Swami