Whitmarsh and Haug preview Bahrain GP

Race three of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship takes place in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team arrives at the Bahrain International Circuit leading the Constructors’ table with a total of 24 points. Lewis and Heikki are first and fourth in the Drivers’ standings with 14 and 10 points respectively.

"The nature of the Bahrain International Circuit is very similar to Canada. Consequently it’s tough on brakes as there are some big stops at the end of the high speed turns, which makes things exciting from an overtaking point of view, but is extremely tough on the cars. In addition the lack of key features around the track means that the drivers really have to concentrate on their braking points as traditionally they use landmarks to pick them. In preparation for the race and together with our Japanese Partner Akebono we have focused on improved brake efficiency and cooling."

"Of course we would have liked to test in Bahrain but we do have to prioritise where we spend our time. Over the winter we have improved the aerodynamic efficiency of the car and cooling generally so it’s not currently one of our vulnerable points. We have good data from running at the Bahrain track in previous years so we are confident it will not prove too much of a disadvantage."

"The focus has been on reliability after the first two races which on the circuit have been pleasing but as always behind the scenes there are lots of things you need to attend to. In particular the pitstops and the problem we experienced in Malaysia with Lewis’ right front wheel. We have good pace in the car and need to maintain our momentum so obviously we have continued to develop the car in the wind tunnel. However we are still evaluating whether we will take some of the aerodynamic developments with us to Bahrain."

“Both races were high class and interesting. The first Grand Prix saw a superiority of both Vodafone McLaren Mercedes cars, and the second race was dominated by both Ferraris. However, neither Ferrari nor we managed to achieve the 1-2 victory, which seemed a possibility in both races beyond the halfway mark. In Melbourne, Heikki was hampered by the third Safety Car period; for Ferrari in Malaysia, it was a driving mistake, by their own account. BMW Sauber performed well in both Grands Prix, finishing second twice and without doubt belongs to those teams that are capable of fighting for victories by their own means.”

“The two engines, which powered Lewis’s and Heikki’s MP4-23s in Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, completed a total of 1,903 kms. Both engines were sealed; one of them will be handed over to the FIA, according to the rules, as the homologation engine for the next five years. The other engine will undergo an in-depth examination, like all other engines after two races, and will then be used for development work on the dyno where it usually covers a similar distance like in both Grands Prix.”

“We expect another race in high ambient temperatures and with similar challenges like Australia and Malaysia. The sand blown onto the track consistently is a typical characteristic of the Bahrain International Circuit; it often suddenly changes the grip conditions. The engines’ air filters are even more thoroughly checked and more often changed than usual to avoid the intrusion of sand particles. Due to the track layout with four long straights followed by tight corners each, the engines’ load profile is in the medium range. About two thirds of a lap on the 5.4km circuit will be run under full throttle.”