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Seventeen times the Bahrain GP and these were the best!

Seventeen times the Bahrain GP and these were the best!

15-03-2022 17:05

GPblog.com

Bahrain is now an integral part of the Formula One calendar. In 2022 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the eighteenth Grand Prix. GPblog looks back on the most beautiful races in the desert.

Alonso vs. Schumi and Raikkonen's catch-up race

These days we have Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battling it out for the world championship. In 2006, it was Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher. Bahrain was the first race in that season, just like this year, and it immediately provided spectacle.

Alonso and Schumi battled until the last seconds for the win in Bahrain. The Spaniard managed to overtake his competitor after the second pit stop and thus win. In addition, the audience was also treated to a beautiful overtaking race by Kimi Raikkonen, who after starting last on Saturday after a crash, finished on P3.

'Duel in the Desert'

The 2014 edition was perhaps the most beautiful Bahrain Grand Prix. A race labeled as 'Duel in the Desert' saw the battle between teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. For laps, the Mercedes drivers battled it out for the win in the first year of the hybrid era. It was Hamilton who eventually beat his German teammate and later won the title that year.

It was not only Rosberg and Hamilton who provided spectacle, as Pastor Maldonado also made himself heard. This he did not do in a positive way. After his pit stop he ran into the Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, who then tapped the Venezuelan to the head.

Leclerc loses first win due to Ferrarifailure

In 2019, Charles Leclerc was allowed to start from pole in only his second race for Ferrari. The Monegasque seemed to be heading for an easy win in the race and kept it up until lap 45. One lap later, disaster struck for the young driver. His Ferrari gave up the ghost and the pace was completely gone.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas caught up with Leclerc, and Verstappen was also already approaching. Leclerc's first podium was saved by a double failure by Renault. Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg crashed out almost simultaneously, bringing out a safety car.