F1 : 2010 Bahrain - Formula 1 FIA schedule of press conferences & preview

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Date	Time	Guest
Thursday 11th of March 2010	15h00	Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) Jenson Button (McLaren) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) Felipe Massa (Ferrari) Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP)
Friday 12th of March 2010	16h00	Lucas di Grassi (Virgin Racing) Nico Hülkenberg (Williams F1) Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus Racing) Robert Kubica (Renault F1) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Saturday 13th of March 2010	Post qualifying *	Three fastest drivers from qualifying
Sunday 14th of March 2010	Post race *	First three finishing drivers

All press conferences will take place in the press conference room of the media centre.

* The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews, which will be broadcasted in the Media Centre and the Press Conference Room.

FIA Bahrain Grand Prix preview

The opening round of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship season takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Built on former desert, the track sits about 30 kilometres south of the island kingdom’s capital city, Manama.

In 2004 Bahrain became the first Middle Eastern country to host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, this is the second time it has hosted the season opening Grand Prix, the first being in 2006.

Several changes have been made to the track for 2010. It’s now configured with inner and outer circuits, a new loop, and has 23 turns: 13 right handers and 10 left handers.

The additional loop, starting just after the old turn four, brings eight new corners, a fast left leading into a sequence of five bends followed by a quick kink then a hairpin, all with a significant elevation change.

The layout will be a new challenge for the drivers and should add overtaking opportunities. BIC’s desert location means sand blown on to the circuit by frequent strong winds can reduce grip levels.

To help ensure maximum grip, the track surface was laid with a special type of sandstone.

The Bahrain Grand Prix, with its Arabian climate and desert setting, presents competitors with a unique challenge, all must cope with heat, dehydration and sand.

Map credit FIA