20 years on – the first Bahrain Grand Prix
As excitement builds for the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of 2024, reflect on what happened at the first ever Bahrain Grand Prix two decades ago.
AUTO ACTION was on the ground at the Sakhir International Circuit in April 2004 when the Kingdom was introduced to the F1 world and Mike Doodson wrote the following report for the magazine.
New track, new country, new records. Michael Schumacher is made for days like these.
YET ANOTHER flawless performance from Michael Schumacher, backed up by his teammate Rubens Barrichello, gave the Ferrari team a clean sweep in Sunday’s inaugural Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello celebrate a second Ferrari one-two in three races. Image: Steve Etherington/LAT Photographic
It was depressing news for optimists who had hoped that the men in scarlet might be wrong-footed by the opposition at the brand new circuit in the desert.
But the big names failed again and it was the splendidly driven BAR-Honda of Jenson Button that finished third, 27 seconds behind Barrichello.
The Brazilian and Schumacher painfully rubbed in Ferrari’s superiority when they revealed afterwards that they had managed to pull away at the start despite having flat-spotted their front tyres as they asserted themselves under braking for the first corner.
Nagging pre-race worries about the durability of their tyres and brakes had caused them both to start with light fuel, but like all their rivals they ran to a three-stop strategy and were already well in front when they came in to make their first stops.
“It was hard work because the brakes were sort of marginal and we had to keep an eye on the tyres,” said Michael.
“You saw both tyre companies were fighting with blisters so you had to drive on a fine line, not push it too hard, not overdo it, otherwise you would fall into this problem and that makes it look less spectacular.
Any hopes of winning that Barrichello was harbouring were dashed when a rear jack problem cost him an extra four or five seconds at his first refuelling stop.
Button’s excellent showing – his second podium in two races – underlined just how far behind Ferrari the so-called opposition has now fallen.
The Williams-BMWs of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher filled the second row in qualifying, but the younger Schumacher – who has now gone seven races without visiting the podium – found himself battling with Takuma Sato in the other BAR-Honda.
Ralf Schumacher in the Williams BMW FW26 and Takuma Sato in the BAR Honda 006 collide with each other at turn 2.Image: Motorsport Images
He then threw away his chances in an unnecessary clash of wheels with the improving Japanese driver:
Under the FIA’s new disciplinary procedure, the stewards put Ralf on notice of a post-race interview. The video evidence showed clearly that he had viciously closed the door on Sato, and he was given a warning as to his future conduct.
Not only does such behaviour dismay the Williams team, but it does not augur well for a driver whose management is trying to persuade other teams that he is worth $40 million a year.
Montoya, as usual, looked more convincing than his teammate and would have finished third but for hydraulic issues that steadily deprived him of gears, then cut out his throttle.
He lost 10 places in the last 10 laps and just managed to scramble across the line in 13th place. Williams technical director Patrick Head described the result as a “bloody mess”.
At least the Renault team managed to get both cars to the finish. This week Jarno Trulli was in top form, snatching fourth from Sato who had made an extra stop to replace a nose damaged on a kerb) in the final laps.
Had it not been for obstructive back-markers and a car that lost grip at the end of the race, the Italian thought he could have claimed third from Button.
Starting 17th because of a brake problem in qualifying, Fernando Alonso eventually finished sixth in the other Renault.
Ralf Schumacher wound up seventh in his Williams-BMW, having made an extra pit stop to check for damage (there was none after his clash with Sato.
Mark Webber scored the first points of the season for both himself and Jaguar Racing by claiming eighth place in his Jaguar-Cosworth.
It was another catastrophic day for McLaren-Mercedes. Kimi Raikkonen suffered an engine failure in practice, taking the new “10 places back penalty and choosing to start from the rear of the grid.
But although the Finn made an aggressive start, he retired early with a second massive engine failure. David Coulthard was running eighth when his Mercedes engine suffered a loss of pneumatic power with 17 laps to go.
BAR celebrates with Jenson Button a second straight podium after a first in the previous race at Malaysia. Image: Steve Etherington/LAT Photographic
In spite of lingering worries about the lack of preparedness of the facilities, not to mention the possibility of terrorist action, the first Bahrain GP was a success.
The only engines that appeared to be affected by flying sand were those made by Mercedes (they accounted for two of the day’s three DNFs) and everyone was delighted with the warm welcome.
Even the substitution of fruit juice and carbonated rosewater for the celebratory post race champagne – albeit in champagne-style magnums – caused some merriment. “We smell like ladies now,” said Button. Unfortunately for all those who aren’t members of the Ferrari team, it looks as though they’re driving like ladies, too.
THE LAPS THAT MATTERED AT BAHRAIN
Start: Both Ferrari drivers light up their front tyres into the first corner. Michael Schumacher leads from Barrichello.
Montoya manages to fend off a challenge from a fast-starting Trulli. This allows Sato and Ralf Schumacher to pass the Renault, while Button gets stuck behind Trulli. Next up is da Matta, Coulthard, Panis and a fast-starting Webber.
Lap 1: da Matta runs wide and is passed by Webber. Alonso pits after a clash with Klien’s Jaguar.
Lap 2. Webber passes Coulthard to move to ninth.
Lap 7. Ralf cuts off Sato unfairly and his car rears up on two wheels. After a spin, he makes a precautionary pitstop.
Lap 8. Raikkonen’s engine catches fire.
Lap 9. The scheduled pit stops begin with Michael Schumacher, Webber, Coulthard and Massa.
Lap 15 Klien spins
Lap 17. Sato hits a kerb and pits for repairs.
Lap 23. Coulthard and Webber come into the pits for a second time. Coulthard again gets out faster.
Lap 24. Michael stops for a second time. Barrichello goes into the lead.
Lap 25. Webber has an off but does not lose track position.
Lap 31. Alonso forces his way past Webber at the first corner. Ralf punts Fisichella into a spin.
Lap 33. Sato goes past Coulthard.
Lap 41: Michael Schumacher makes his third and final stop.
Lap 47 Montoya begins to slow as he loses gears. At the tail of the field Baumgartner retires with a blown engine.
Lap 49: Button passes Montoya to take third place.
Lap 54. Ralf Schumacher passes Montoya for seventh place.
Lap 56: Webber and Panis get by Montoya
2004 Bahrain Grand Prix results
There is also lots more loaded into a bumper edition of AUTO ACTION magazine, on sale at newsagents and available digitally here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
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