2013 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
The Bahrain International Circuit is the Kingdom of Bahrain’s only racetrack. It was designed and built by Tilke GmbH in 2003 and it hosted the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in April 2004. The race has been a regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since then, with the exception of 2011.
The 3.363-mile/5.412km track provides a complex technical challenge for the teams. The circuit has two clear overtaking places, into Turns One and Four, and acres of run-off. Its mix of long straights and predominantly low- and medium-speed corners force a compromise on car set-up, and this year’s race will also be the first time that Pirelli’s P Zero tyres and the DRS have been used at the venue.
Heat management is crucial, both for the cars and the drivers. Ambient temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees and the cloudless desert skies push the track temperature towards 60 degrees – the highest of the year. Such extreme conditions affect tyre wear and result in the drivers losing up to three litres of fluid during the race.
Race results
- 1
- Sebastian Vettel
- Winner
- 2
- Kimi Räikkönen
- +9.1 secs
- 3
- Romain Grosjean
- +19.5 secs
- 4
- Paul di Resta
- +21.7 secs
- 5
- Lewis Hamilton
- +35.2 secs
- 6
- Sergio Pérez
- +35.9 secs
- 7
- Mark Webber
- +37.2 secs
- 8
- Fernando Alonso
- +37.5 secs
- 9
- Nico Rosberg
- +41.1 secs
- 10
- Jenson Button
- +46.6 secs
- 11
- Pastor Maldonado
- +66.4 secs
- 12
- Nico Hülkenberg
- +72.9 secs
- 13
- Adrian Sutil
- +76.7 secs
- 14
- Valtteri Bottas
- +81.5 secs
- 15
- Felipe Massa
- +86.3 secs
- 16
- Daniel Ricciardo
- +1 Lap
- 17
- Charles Pic
- +1 Lap
- 18
- Esteban Gutiérrez
- +1 Lap
- 19
- Jules Bianchi
- +1 Lap
- 20
- Max Chilton
- +1 Lap
- 21
- Giedo van der Garde
- +2 Lap
- 22
- Jean-Éric Vergne
- +41 Laps
Qualifying results
- 1
- Nico Rosberg
- 1:32.330
- 2
- Sebastian Vettel
- 1:32.584
- 3
- Fernando Alonso
- 1:32.667
- 4
- Lewis Hamilton
- 1:32.762
- 5
- Mark Webber
- 1:33.078
- 6
- Felipe Massa
- 1:33.207
- 7
- Paul di Resta
- 1:33.235
- 8
- Adrian Sutil
- 1:33.246
- 9
- Kimi Räikkönen
- 1:33.327
- 10
- Jenson Button
- 1:33.702
- 11
- Romain Grosjean
- 1:33.762
- 12
- Sergio Pérez
- 1:33.914
- 13
- Daniel Ricciardo
- 1:33.974
- 14
- Nico Hülkenberg
- 1:33.976
- 15
- Valtteri Bottas
- 1:34.105
- 16
- Jean-Éric Vergne
- 1:34.284
- 17
- Pastor Maldonado
- 1:34.425
- 18
- Esteban Gutiérrez
- 1:34.730
- 19
- Charles Pic
- 1:35.283
- 20
- Jules Bianchi
- 1:36.178
- 21
- Giedo van der Garde
- 1:36.304
- 22
- Max Chilton
- 1:36.476
Championship results
- Sebastian Vettel
- 77
- Kimi Räikkönen
- 67
- Lewis Hamilton
- 50
- Fernando Alonso
- 47
- Mark Webber
- 32
- Felipe Massa
- 30
- Romain Grosjean
- 26
- Paul di Resta
- 20
- Nico Rosberg
- 14
- Jenson Button
- 13
- Sergio Pérez
- 10
- Daniel Ricciardo
- 6
- Adrian Sutil
- 6
- Nico Hülkenberg
- 5
- Jean-Éric Vergne
- 1
- Valtteri Bottas
- 0
- Pastor Maldonado
- 0
- Max Chilton
- 0
- Luiz Razia
- 0
- Jules Bianchi
- 0
- Giedo van der Garde
- 0
- Esteban Gutiérrez
- 0
- Charles Pic
- 0
Championship results
- Red Bull Racing
- 109
- Lotus
- 93
- Ferrari
- 77
- Mercedes
- 64
- Force India
- 26
- McLaren
- 23
- Toro Rosso
- 7
- Sauber
- 5
- Williams
- 0
- Marussia
- 0
- HRT
- 0
- Caterham
- 0
The 2012 winner was Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel. Vettel also set the fastest lap of 1m 36.379s - an average speed of 202.151km/h.
A mechanical problem in qualifying forced Kimi Raikkonen to start the race from last place in 2006. Undeterred, he raced up to 13th by the end of lap one and executed a perfect one-stop strategy to finish third.
The circuit was used as a winter testing venue in 2007 - a young Lewis Hamilton cut his teeth here ahead of his Formula 1 debut.
Test driver Pedro de la Rosa was drafted into the team at the 11th hour in 2005 to replace the injured Juan Pablo Montoya. He drove an attacking race to fifth, setting fastest lap on the way.
