“almost oval” Bahrain track

[Just_a_fan]

Yes, but the fact they're going to turning left at the exit means the line through 4 will change.

I do not think so...looking at the video, turn 4 is defined by the outside apex behind and this will not really change. Turn 5 in this layout with a current car will not be an issue, which would compromise turn 4 in any way.

Turn 4 will be shorter because they are turning less. Thus Turn 4 will be taken at a higher apex speed because it will be more like the Turn 14 (the second to last corner before the start straight). That means less overtaking opportunity in Turn 4.

Think of Turn 4, 5 and 6 as being like Maggots/Becketts at Silverstone.

[Just_a_fan]

Outer track, 3 DRS zones, Straight leading to main straight, main straight, and straight leading to T4.

If this layout is used, they need to make the DRS on the main straight one that is only the final 500m before the 100m board. Make overtaking tougher?

If they use this layout, overtaking will be tough enough anyway. The only spot will be in to turn 1. Nothing in to 4 as it will be too quick a corner - it is a 4th gear corner normally so is likely to be 5th gear if going "straight on" in the "oval configuration". The last pair of corners might be usable using a cut back approach - the second to last corner was 4th gear last year which is similar to T4 normally, however, it opens on the exit making the cutback less effective - unlike T4 where the cutback works quite well. A tough overtake chance, if at all.

[FW17]

The oval layout with a quick T1 is similar to T1 in Hockenheim...nothing happening there...

One is 500 m the other is 1.1 km, both are going to be same?

[Ringleheim]

Bahrain sucks no matter how you slice and dice it, so slice and dice it anyway you want.

[hollus]

Bah / rain.

[NathanOlder]

Or have DRS in all 3 straights, and we could get 1 huge DRS train for the whole field. Bit like a Nascar race

[astracrazy]

Sorry, slightly off topic but in the spirit of two races at the same track. Surely Ross would also be looking at Abu Dhabi to do a similar thing, they could easily do two different layouts.

[Just_a_fan]

Sorry, slightly off topic but in the spirit of two races at the same track. Surely Ross would also be looking at Abu Dhabi to do a similar thing, they could easily do two different layouts.

They could but if you took off the harbour section, the rest is basically the start straight, a left turn, the sweeps down to the hairpin, a long straight and then a left followed by almost a chicane back on to the start straight. Not sure that would be great.

[Jaeger]

Do not forget that any alternative configuration of any track must meet safety requirements,run-off areas and correct barrier placements for ideal crash angles.

[Just_a_fan]

The shortened Abu Dhabi track mentioned would do so as it's already a track layout built in to the circuit. The only slight adjustment needed would be the pit entrance. The entrance would be on the outside of the second to last corner which isn't ideal but could be made to work.

You can see where the track would run here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@24.4684587 ... 312!8i6656
They'd turn left where the line of cones is.

Having said that, I think a shortened Abu circuit would be rubbish.