2015 Bahrain Grand Prix Preview

By Apr 16, 2015, 9:00 AM EDT
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The first flyaway leg of the 2015 Formula 1 season comes to a close this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix, as the teams begin to prepare their first major upgrade packages for introduction at the start of the European season in three weeks’ time.

Last year’s race at the Bahrain International Circuit went down in folklore as Mercedes teammates and championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg enjoyed a spectacular fight for the race win in the final 10 laps.

That day, it was Hamilton who took the spoils, but it set the tone for an intra-team scrap that would eventually boil over in Hungary and Belgium – the repercussions of which are still being felt today.

Following his ninth defeat in the last ten races to Hamilton in China, Rosberg accused his teammate of deliberately compromising both his race and that of the team in pursuit of his own victory. The frosty atmosphere of the post-race press conference shows that the tension between the two sides of the Mercedes garage only lingers in 2015.

We now head to Bahrain with a fascinating battle on the cards. The last time Rosberg was so riled up after a race, he reacted by making contact with Hamilton at Spa-Francorchamps, thus becoming the villain. All eyes will be on the two Mercedes drivers in case of a repeat in Bahrain.

However, with Ferrari proving in China that its Malaysia pace was not a one-off, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen could also be candidates for the race win.

2015 Bahrain Grand Prix – Talking Points

Desert Duel v3?

The championship showdown between Hamilton and Rosberg in Abu Dhabi last year was billed as the “desert duel” – in truth, it was the second one following their clash in Bahrain. So does that make this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix the third instalment? If it has even half of the action that last year’s race in Sakhir did, then we are in for a treat.

Rosberg must bounce back this weekend – nine defeats in the last ten races to Hamilton, plus a 0-3 record in 2015 – or he’ll be facing an even bigger task to get back into this title fight. Most importantly though, he must do his talking on track. Beating Lewis this weekend would be an enormous psychological victory – another defeat could be equally as emphatic, though.

Ferrari’s next big opportunity

Sebastian Vettel’s shock victory in Malaysia proved that Ferrari can cut it with Mercedes at the front, particularly at races where temperatures are high. Bahrain is set to be another sizzler on Sunday, even when being run at night, which could bring Ferrari back into contention. It will be interesting to see just how closely Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen can fight with the Silver Arrows, particularly given the internal issues the German marque is facing.

The chasing pack continues to shape up

Lotus finally came good on its pre-season pace in China (well, Romain Grosjean did) whilst Red Bull continued to struggle and McLaren made some good progress to get both of its cars to the line. So who exactly leads the way in the midfield battle? Williams was in a rather lonely class of its own in China, easing to P5 and P6, and should expect to do the same this weekend. Just behind, the margins between Lotus, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Sauber are small, whilst a power upgrade for McLaren could yet bring it into contention again. If the battle at the front is a let down, the one in the midfield certainly won’t be.

McLaren’s rapid rise

It may be just one of two teams without a single point to its name in 2015, but McLaren has made some rapid progress over the first three races of the season. Honda has promised an engine boost for this weekend’s race in Bahrain before a bigger one at the start of the European season at the Spanish grand Prix, suggesting that everything is moving in the right direction. Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are both former winners here, and could be outside bets for points should a race of attrition set in.

The rhythm of the night

Night races in Formula 1 are always special. The Singapore Grand Prix was the first, with Abu Dhabi holding a ‘twilight’ race that started at dusk. Bahrain followed suit with its first night race in 2014, which was an unmitigated success both on and off track. For drivers, it gives the event some extra spice and panache, whilst the spectacle is undoubtedly improved by running in the dark under floodlights.

Bahrain Grand Prix – Facts and Figures

Track: Bahrain International Circuit
Laps: 57
Corners: 15
Lap Record: Michael Schumacher 1:30.252 (2004)
Tire Compounds: Soft (Option); Medium (Prime)
2014 Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2014 Pole Position: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:33.185
2014 Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:37.020
DRS Zones: Main Straight (T15 to T1); T10 to T11

Bahrain Grand Prix – TV Times

Free Practice 1: NBC Sports Live Extra 7a ET 4/17
Free Practice 2: NBCSN 11a ET 4/17
Free Practice 3: NBC Sports Live Extra 8a ET 4/18
Qualifying: CNBC 11a ET 4/18
Race: NBCSN 10:30a ET 4/19

Also, be sure to watch the premiere of Off The Grid: Melbourne following F1 Extra on NBCSN on Sunday as Will Buxton and Jason Swales show you all of the behind the scenes at the Australian Grand Prix. For a sneak preview of the show, click here.

After New York whirlwind, Josef Newgarden makes special trip to simulator before Detroit

By Jun 2, 2023, 10:00 AM EDT
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DETROIT – There’s no rest for the weary as an Indy 500 winner, but Josef Newgarden discovered there are plenty of extra laps.

The reigning Indy 500 champion added an extra trip Wednesday night back to Concord, N.C., for one last session on the GM Racing simulator before Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

After a 30-year run on the Belle Isle course, the race has been moved to a nine-turn, 1.7-mile layout downtown, so two extra hours on the simulator were worth it for Newgarden.

INDYCAR IN DETROIT: Entry list, schedule, TV info for this weekend

JOSEF’S FAMILY TIES: Newgarden wins Indy 500 with wisdom of father, wife

“I really wanted to do it,” he told NBC Sports at a Thursday media luncheon. “If there’s any time that the sim is most useful, it’s in this situation when no one has ever been on a track, and we’re able to simulate it as best as we can. We want to get some seat time.

“It’s extra important coming off the Indy 500 because you’ve been out of rhythm for a road or street course-type environment, so I really wanted some laps. I was really appreciative to Chevy. There was a few guys that just came in and stayed late for me so I could get those laps before coming up here. I don’t know if it’s going to make a difference, but I feel like it’s going to help for me.”

After a whirlwind tour of New York for two days, Newgarden arrived at the simulator (which is at the GM Racing Technical Center adjacent to Hendrick Motorsports) in time for a two hour session that started at 6 p.m. Wednesday. He stayed overnight in Charlotte and then was up for an early commercial flight to Detroit, where he had more media obligations.

Newgarden joked that if he had a jet, he would have made a quick stop in Nashville, Tennessee, but a few more days away from home (where he has yet to return in weeks) is a worthy tradeoff for winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – though the nonstop interviews can take a toll.

“It’s the hardest part of the gig for me is all this fanfare and celebration,” Newgarden said. “I love doing it because I’m so passionate about the Indy 500 and that racetrack and what that race represents. I feel honored to be able to speak about it. It’s been really natural and easy for me to enjoy it because I’ve been there for so many years.

“Speaking about this win has been almost the easiest job I’ve ever had for postrace celebrations. But it’s still for me a lot of work. I get worn out pretty easily. I’m very introverted. So to do this for three days straight, it’s been a lot.”

Though he is terrified of heights, touring the top of the Empire State Building for the first time was a major highlight (and produced the tour’s most viral moment).

“I was scared to get to the very top level,” Newgarden said. “That thing was swaying. No one else thought it was swaying. I’m pretty sure it was. I really impressed by the facility. I’d never seen it before. It’s one of those bucket list things. If you go to New York, it’s really special to do that. So to be there with the wreath and the whole setup, it just felt like an honor to be in that moment.”

Now the attention shifts to Detroit and an inaugural circuit that’s expected to be challenging. Along with a Jefferson Avenue straightaway that’s 0.9 miles long, the track has several low-speed corners and a “split” pit lane (teams will stop on both sides of a rectangular area) with a narrow exit that blends just before a 90-degree lefthand turn into Turn 1.

Newgarden thinks the track is most similar to the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville.

“It’s really hard to predict with this stuff until we actually run,” he said. “Maybe we go super smooth and have no issues. Typically when you have a new event, you’re going to have some teething issues. That’s understandable. We’ve always got to massage the event to get it where we want it, but this team has worked pretty hard. They’ve tried to get feedback constantly on what are we doing right, what do we need to look out for. They’ve done a ton of grinding to make sure this surface is in as good of shape as possible.

“There’s been no expense spared, but you can’t foresee everything. I have no idea how it’s going to race. I think typically when you look at a circuit that seems simple on paper, people tend to think it’s not going to be an exciting race, or challenging. I find the opposite always happens when we think that way. Watch it be the most exciting, chaotic, entertaining race.

Newgarden won the last two pole positions at Belle Isle’s 2.35-mile layout and hopes to continue the momentum while avoiding any post-Brickyard letdown.

“I love this is an opportunity for us to get something right quicker than anyone else,” he said. “A new track is always exciting from that standpoint. I feel I’m in a different spot. I’m pretty run down. I’m really trying to refocus and gain some energy back for tomorrow. Which I’ll have time to today, which is great.

“I don’t want that Indy 500 hangover. People always talk about it. They’ve always observed it. That doesn’t mean we have to win this weekend, but I’d like to leave here feeling like we had a really complete event, did a good job and had a solid finish leading into the summer. I want to win everywhere I go, but if we come out of here with a solid result and no mistakes, then probably everyone will be happy with it.”