Bahrain Grand Prix
2019 Formula 1 season, Round 2
Bahrain International Circuit
31 March 2019
The 2019 Formula 1 World Championship will stage Round 2 this coming weekend, when the Bahrain Grand Prix is held on Sunday, 31 March.
Valtteri Bottas comes into the event as the leader of the drivers’ championship, having claimed a record haul of 26 points thanks to his victory and fastest lap double at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne earlier this month.
Reigning champion and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton came home in second place, with the ‘Silver Arrows’ enjoying a significant pace advantage ‘Down Under’. Unless the other teams have made a major stride forward, it’s likely that Bottas and Hamilton will be battling each other for the victory.
Ferrari will certainly hope that’s not the case, and the Italian team – as well as lead driver Sebastian Vettel – have good memories of past dominant performances at the Bahrain International Circuit, including victories for their German driver in the last two editions of the race.
Yet perhaps the best challenge to the Mercedes cars may come from Max Verstappen and Red Bull, who claimed third place in Melbourne. Neutrals will hope the Dutch driver can take the fight to the ‘Silver Arrows’ in the Middle East.
Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo will hope for a better showing in his second race for new team Renault, Haas will aim to keep up their impressive pace, and Williams drivers Robert Kubica and George Russell will be praying their cars are at least a little more competitive.
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2019 Formula 1 – Drivers’ Championship standings
1 – Valtteri Bottas – 26 points
2 – Lewis Hamilton – 18
3 – Max Verstappen – 15
2019 Formula 1 – Constructors’ Championship standings
1 – Mercedes – 44 points
2 – Ferrari – 22
3 – Red Bull Racing-Honda – 15
Number of previous races: 14 – first in 2004
Most wins, driver: Sebastian Vettel – 4
Most wins, constructor: Ferrari – 6
2018 result: 1 – Vettel, Ferrari; 2 – Bottas, Mercedes; 3 – Hamilton, Mercedes
Circuit length: 5.412km
Race length: 308.405km
Laps: 57
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