All eyes were on Bahrain this weekend as the 2010 Formula One season got underway in the desert, but what did those involved make of the opening grand prix?
This was Formula One’s first visit to Bahrain since the track gained an entirely new section – what did the driver’s think of that?
“Frankly, it’s a bit Mickey Mouse.”
– Sebastian Vettel
“It reminds me of Monaco. Very slow, lots of bumps.”
– Robert Kubica
'The Ferrari is a quick car, but I believe we have them covered' – Christian Horner
There were some rookies too…
“For me it is a great honour to be here in F1. I am just enjoying every minute I am in the car, trying to learn as much as I can and trying to evolve as a driver. It is a great feeling.”
– Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin)
“Just happy to be here and looking forward hopefully to a long career.”
– Nico Hulkenberg (Williams)
…and some familiar faces were in new places
“I’m quite happy, actually. It is not easy to change after four years being with one team. It is quite a different mentality team, so we have done quite good work in winter to prepare for the new season, new challenge. It is okay.”
– Robert Kubica (Sauber to Renault)
“I was with my previous team for seven years… it’s a real challenge and most of us do not really like change, but it has been good… I spend a lot of time at the factory; not just with the engineers, just spending time at the factory, so I am part of the furniture.”
– Jenson Button (Brawn to McLaren)
…and a couple of old soldiers dusting off their helmets for another tilt.
“Just by being here, I feel like I’ve won the Grand Prix already!”
– Pedro de la Rosa
“What was the question? At my age you start forgetting things…”
– Michael Schumacher
The rules have changed, there’s no refuelling, so all the cars are a lot heavier…
“Does it make it harder? No, a slow car is pretty easy to drive, but the tyres certainly don’t like it.
– Mark Webber
Getty Images/Red Bull Photofiles
Qualifying saw Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull RB6 take the first pole position of the year.
“It’s a big surprise. In winter testing no-one really knew where we were. Of course it was clear that there were four teams pretty strong, but close to each other. Yesterday was a very tough day for us, but the mechanics were here very late and did not get much sleep, so thanks to the team. To be on top is definitely a very, very nice feeling. We don‘t know really what will happen tomorrow. It could be exciting. It could be very boring. Boring is what I hope for.”
– Sebastian Vettel
…and a recovered Felipe Massa back after serious injury qualified alongside him
“I was watching the races on television and was pretty excited but it is much better to be sat in the car. I prepared myself in a good direction: testing; driving go-karts; everything. It is great to be back in the car and if you look at what happened last season with us I think it is a good start to the season for us.
– Felipe Massa
Meanwhile reigning World Champion Jenson Button was only eighth…
"Through qualifying it was getting better and better and then in the last run something felt wrong, so we are going to have a look at the car and see what that is. I'm surprised I was eighth actually because it was struggling around the last lap… I think Red Bull are very, very fast and even the Ferraris couldn't stay with them in qualifying.”
– Jenson Button
Getty Images/Red Bull Photofiles
“Sector two cost me. I stuffed Turn16 and had a big rear lock-up into there, which was a bit of a surprise. I tried to get it back in Turn 19 and managed to lose myself another four-tenths, so, yeah, very, very frustrating. So we’re back a bit but it’s a long, long afternoon tomorrow and I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s all going to go.”
– Mark Webber
While, Toro Rosso qualified their cars in 15th & 18th
“I think that was quite good! Maybe we could have got in front of de la Rosa [Sauber] but there was not much in it. But we are where we think we should be. We need to keep working hard. Today we found out where we are with low fuel. Tomorrow we find out with high fuel.”
– Sébastien Buemi
“At the best we were looking to be 15th and 16th, but I made a mistake with the option tyre and it cost me positions and I’m P18. We expected more from the car after the [final test in] Barcelona, but I think other teams have made more progress since then.”
– Jaime Alguersuari
Getty Images/Red Bull Photofiles
Then there was a race. Vettel led most of it, before a mysterious power loss slowed him down. Ferrari finished one-two, and Lewis Hamilton grabbed third. Seb limped home fourth.
“It’s a pity, but what can you do?”
– Sebastian Vettel
“We’ve been lucky; in all the victories you need some luck and this one was lucky as well – but I was thinking of winning the race at the time, but I knew overtaking Vettel would be very difficult.”
– Fernando Alonso
“We had a good day. I think our race pace was a lot stronger obviously than our qualifying pace. I think we’re lacking in a little bit of downforce compared to the Ferraris and especially the Red Bulls, but we’re not in a bad position… I’m very happy with third.”
– Lewis Hamilton
Meanwhile, further back the Toro Rosso’s scrapped for the minor placings. Jaime Alguersuari finished 13th, while Sébastien Buemi retired late on in the race with an electrical problem…
“The first lap was quite hectic and after that I was quite fast, it was going well. I lost some places in the pitstop and got stuck behind Jaime. Then three laps from the end, the car just stopped. Overall… not good.”
– Sébastien Buemi
“I think it was very positive. It was the first race of the season, we finished it, and that was the main objective.
– Jaime Alguersuari
The final word from Bahrain 2010 goes to Christian Horner...
“It was very encouraging. From a performance point of view we looked in great shape. We looked good – so it’s bitterly disappointing to lose a race with a power loss. We won’t know what caused it until we get into the car. Today wasn’t about being flat out, it was about looking after the tyres. For sure the Ferrari is a quick car, but I believe we have them covered.”
Click on the links for more from Red Bull Racing and Torro Rosso, or head to the official Formula One website.
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