SAKHIR, Bahrain — The Bahrain Grand Prix’s first two practices were business as usual for Mercedes as Nico Rosberg set the pace ahead of F1 leader Lewis Hamilton on day one at the Bahrain International Circuit.
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Rosberg’s fastest lap of 1:34.647 was just 0.115 ahead of his teammate, with Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari in third, over half a second off the lead but having shown good pace.
The ferocity of the action on the track couldn’t be further from the calmness of the host country. Bahrain is remarkably still.
This is seen across the whole of the landscape as you head out from the capital city Manama and make the journey toward the circuit, which stands in proud solitude in the outer reaches of Sakhir.
Bahrain’s quietness is deafening and until you reach the illuminated palm trees and shrubbery that dance playfully along the road that steers you towards the track, Formula One seems an odd fit.
As one of the richest, most glamorous sports in the world, F1’s presence is a surprising one, is playing out among the rubbled landscape, occasional graffiti and smatterings of houses.
Always the centre of attention… (well, when there are no cars on track) #F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/KLnta9GyZq
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) April 17, 2015
Mini metropolises spurt up with houses of seemingly no symmetry and are striking in their dashes of painted facades. Sky blues, lime and dark greens, yellows and sandy tones all grace an array of houses which can’t fail to impress you in their uniqueness.
They seem all too contrasting, but once the stillness returns in the form of a stalling traffic jam the evidence is there for all to see that Bahrain is a hugely popular Grand Prix.
Hundreds of cars flood the public car park as thousands of people make their way to the track to take in the action.
And this has been the case since 2004 when Bahrain was granted its first F1 race.
The lights are on and the lasers are out in #FP2 at the #BahrainGP #F1atTwilight pic.twitter.com/lFQn2TZzMc
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 17, 2015
As dusk turns into night the whole area comes alive with light.
The track is lit in stunning fashion and the public areas, walkways and the surrounding roads are all filled with reds, greens and an array of LEDs flitting to the tune of the pace being set on the circuit.
There is something so romantic about night races and Bahrain is a particularly stunning example of the merits of racing among the shadows.
It may not appear on the surface the most natural of F1 hosts, but Bahrain is certainly one of the most visceral.
With competition from Qatar to become another Gulf destination for Bernie Ecclestone’s love child, alongside Abu Dhabi and Sakhir, you need only visit Bahrain’s immense venue to see all the benefits of its place on the calendar.
The competition is of course welcome, especially for fans in the Middle East, and it may well prove a closer run thing than anything we see on the track this year unless Ferrari can consistently challenge the dominance of Rosberg and Hamilton.
