In the first Grand Prix of 2024, teams are under pressure to prove their race pace. In Sakhir, with dry desert conditions and a challenging layout, tyres may degrade quickly, and overtaking in the tight corners brings a high risk of lock ups. All teams must adapt to new cars, while carefully balancing tyre management and attack strategies – who will rise to the occasion?
Mid way through the opening race, McLaren are fighting Mercedes for a top 5 finish. With pit stops still to make, tyre strategy will be crucial. Will an early pit stop onto fresh hard tyres be enough to undercut and edge ahead, or will extending the stint open up more options to attack later? Manage McLaren’s race wisely to secure optimal points and get their season off to a flying start!
Suggested car setup and attribute focus for the Bahrain International Circuit:
- Medium speed cornering is crucial
- Focusing on low speed cornering and DRS effectiveness are also recommended
- Favours cars with stats focused on power
As the opening circuit of the 2024 season, Bahrain is your opportunity to set the standard for the entire season, whether you adopt an aggressive strategy or play your cards closer to your chest.
- Most strategies will call for a single pit stop, but the appearance of a safety car is fairly likely, so be prepared to adjust your pit strategy on the fly and take advantage of this to change out tyres or address mechanical issues.
- Be prepared to push your drivers and battle for positions in the three DRS zones on this circuit.
- Starting on soft tyres and then swapping to hards or mediums could allow you to set the early pace, but also consider the inverse and swap to softs at the midpoint of the race to give yourself a competitive advantage in the final laps.