Sakhir track layout analysis: crucial balancing, risk of overheating

The 2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is upon us. After more than three months, F1 gets serious again. For the fourth time in a row, the Sakhir circuit hosts the opening round of the world championship. The Middle Eastern track is already known to the new cars for its technical peculiarities from last week, during which the three official test days were held to evaluate on track the effectiveness of the work done over the winter by the various teams.

On the eve of the new competitive campaign, the outcome of the opening race seems almost written: the new Red Bull project scares just about everyone and positions the reigning world champion team, once again, as the main favorite. The RB20 number 1, driven by an insatiable Max Verstappen, has reasserted its dominance in tire management during the tests.

F1, Bahrain GP 2024/Track Layout Analysis: Harder tires from Pirelli’s range. Abrasive track

Behind the Austrian team, we find a much more solid and consistent Ferrari SF-24 than a few months ago. The 676 project has become more predictable for the drivers at the helm and seems less aggressive in terms of tire wear during the long runs. As for Ferrari, some doubts remain about the single lap, where the red car has not yet matched its rivals with the C3 tire.

The Bahrain International Circuit stretches over a total length of 5412m and consists of 15 turns, 9 right and 6 left. For this occasion, the race, which as mentioned will be held on Saturday, will cover 57 laps for a total of 308.238 Km, that, as we can deduce from last week’s high fuel simulations, will most likely be completed with three stops.

Pirelli brings to the track the hardest compound range available: C1, C2, and C3. The goal is to provide the teams with tires capable of withstanding abrasive asphalt, lateral forces, traction, and high temperatures; elements that characterize the Bahrain race weekend. There are three sectors where the use of DRS is allowed, and the braking points of turn 1 and 4 are clear opportunities for overtaking.

F1, Bahrain GP 2024/Track Layout Analysis S1: 6g deceleration in turn 1, where exit positioning is crucial

With the help of telemetry, we delve into the details of the first section of the track. At the lights out, the poleman will have to cover a distance of about 450m before reaching the first braking point. The slipstream and the width of the track can be of great help to those who qualify further back, as this context can be exploited to gain positions heading into turn 1.

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In a flying lap, on the other hand, drivers pass the finish line with the DRS system already activated at a speed of about 300KM/h towards the first variant. To tackle turn 1, braking occurs at about 115m, performing the most significant braking of the entire circuit and undoubtedly one of the most demanding for the braking system of the entire F1 calendar.

In this part of the track, a deceleration of about 6g occurs, producing a braking power of over 3000w, where the motor-generator MGU-K will recover a lot of energy then stored in the battery packs. The goal is to graze the apex of turn 1 without generating understeer and, subsequently, to open the steering to get on the gas as soon as possible.

To tackle turn 2, it is very important to give the car the right direction already at 1, so as to cut as much as possible the bend towards the left without losing stability in traction. At turn 4, braking is done at the 100-meter sign. Then, the turning point is anticipated and, on exit, a possible fight with understeer due to the presence of a slight negative banking becomes apparent.

F1, Bahrain GP 2024/Track Layout Analysis S2: Beware of lock-ups entering 11. Optimal balancing required

The central sector is the most technical of the circuit, characterized by curves of any kind. The snake (5, 6, and 7) stands as the most demanding section of the track in terms of aerodynamic load. Turn 5 is approached flat out with the wheels already directed towards the braking of 6, the fastest of the circuit, which is tackled at over 200km/h in sixth gear. The snake concludes with turn 7, a complicated change of direction where the balancing of the car in relation to the aerodynamic load generated is crucial. Usually, in the middle of this bend, drivers lift their foot from the gas pedal between 15% and 30%, with the aim of not losing grip.

Turns 8 and 10 are the slow corners, where it’s important to have a composed car on exit and capable of putting the power down without oversteering. As for the entry into the junction between turn 9 and 10, the Bahrain track has a slight internal banking descending. This drop present on the circuit’s asphalt leads to a reduction of load on the front left wheel. An aspect that, if not managed at best, can be fertile ground for the tire to lock up.

At turn 11, braking is done at the 50-meter sign, and the corner is taken at a minimum cruising speed close to 170 km/h. The aim is to anticipate the turning point as much as possible on entry and, automatically, try to exploit the width of the track on exit managing a front end with a tendency to understeer.

From this moment until the approach to 13, a completely supported section of about 500m begins, which is tackled with the gas wide open in qualifying. First towards the left and then to the right with high values of lateral force. This phase leads to a significant increase in the energy input into the tires, which, in turn, tend to move out of the ideal usage window causing instability in the last sector.

F1, Bahrain GP 2024/Track Layout Analysis S3: Tires overheating, possible oversteer

The third section of the track, located a few kilometers from the capital Manama, consists of two right-hand turns, 13 and 14, similar in terms of minimum speed and setup level. In both mentioned corners, the aim is to anticipate the turning point sacrificing the entry, to be able to get on the gas as soon as possible and tackle the two straights reaching maximum performance in terms of top speed.

To tackle the last corner of the track, the formidable 14, braking occurs at about 80 meters with the tires, both in qualifying and in the race, possibly exceeding the normal operating temperature. Tires overheating outside the ideal working range can create significant problems being a source of unexpected oversteer. These instabilities sometimes lead to drivers crossing the white line and consequently exceeding the track limits.