Formula 1

BWT Racing Point focused on consolidating position at Bahrain double header

Fraser Masefield
25 Nov 2020
3 min read

The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, is fully focused on consolidating its third place in the constructors’ standings as Formula One finishes the 2020 season with three races in 14 days.

First up in this frantic end to a frantic season is the Bahrain double-header, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix traditional track layout before switching to the new and faster ‘Outer Track’ layout just a few days later.

“It looks like it will put on some good racing,” said Lance Stroll of the new layout. “There are certainly not many circuits with just 11 corners. The layout suggests it will be extremely tight in qualifying with some very close lap times. That’s going to potentially produce a really exciting grid that could open it up for some great racing on the Sunday. We’ll prepare as best we can for a new layout and everyone’s going to be in the same boat going into the weekend.”

Canadian Stroll did a fantastic job of securing a first pole position for himself and the team last time out in Turkey but he then suffered a puzzling drop off in pace after switching to a second set of intermediate tyres, eventually finishing 9th.

“Obviously, at first I was frustrated by it all because after the amazing high of taking pole position, we led more laps than anyone else in the race only to not make the podium. Now that we’ve understood why the tyres didn’t perform as expected, I can take the positives from it all. The first stint – building a lead – showed what is possible and it’s all useful experience for the next time we’re fighting up near the front of the field.”

For teammate Sergio Perez, his form couldn’t be any better coming into Bahrain having finished a fine second in Turkey. And for the Mexican, it’s also a circuit he likes, having finished on the podium back in 2014.

“It was a very special moment in my career and it’s incredible to think it happened in only my third race with the team,” said Perez. “It’s amazing to think that we’ve scored five more podiums together since that day. It’s always a great feeling to revisit the circuit and remember 2014.

“There is definitely a great atmosphere in the team right now. I also want to fight for P4 in the Drivers’ Championship and we managed to take that position after a great result in Turkey. That gives me confidence going into Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. We want to be fighting for podiums and the chance to sign off this era on a real high for the team and myself.”

Pirelli will once again be bringing the C2-C4 range of tyres to Bahrain with temperatures expected to be cooler than when the race is traditionally held in April. The real challenge will be to see how the grip on the new outer track plays out, which may not offer quite the grip of the traditional layout.

Fraser Masefield

Sports news and features writer, web editor and author.

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