Concerns about second race in Bahrain: ''Then the Mercedes will drive behind you''

F1 News

2 September 2020 at 09:48
  • GPblog.com

For the second Grand Prix in Bahrain, the normal layout will not be used, but the lap (Oval) around the circuit. A lot of straights and only a few corners almost make for a square and not exactly a big challenge.

Not everyone happy with new layout

Where the idea was to drive the other way at Silverstone during the second race, in the end they just used the same route as the first race. That will not be the case in Bahrain. Then the outside track will be used, but that is not very challenging. Romain Grosjean is therefore not very happy with the choice.

''Personally, I am not convinced. I don't want to judge too quickly, because it's good that we try things, but if you count, every car only has 175 metres of track. That doesn't work if you need a 1-second gap for a working slipstream in the current Formula 1'', says Grosjean according to Motorsport-total.com.

Conversations behind the scenes

Grosjean will accept it, but is afraid it will be a nasty race for the rearguard on this short track. ''When you drive last, you have to leave a Mercedes in front, but then the rest will be right behind you. Once you've had everyone, the Mercedes will be behind you again'', says the Haas driver who will discuss this with Alex Wurz and Sebastian Vettel.

''We will sit down with the Drivers' Union to make a proposal for Formula 1. I would have preferred to do the second race on the normal layout as well, but in the middle of the day in the heat. Then you also have a completely different race than in the evening'', concludes the Frenchman.