2021 Bahrain Grand Prix

Entrants

Three drivers make their Formula One race debuts this weekend. Yuki Tsunoda, who impressed in pre-season testing, lines up for AlphaTauri. At Haas, 2020 Formula 2 Champion Mick Schumacher — son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher — and Russian Nikita Mazepin, fifth in the 2020 Formula 2 standings, both make their debuts. Mazepin competes under a neutral flag due to his country’s role in a doping scandal.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C2, C3, and C4 compounds — the same tyres as the 2020 Bahrain race but one step softer than those used in 2019.

Practice

Verstappen was fastest in all three practice sessions for Red Bull. In FP1, he led Bottas and Norris; in FP2, Norris and Hamilton followed. Räikkönen hit the barriers at turn 3 during FP2. Verstappen topped FP3 ahead of Hamilton and Pierre Gasly.

Norris said he was not completely happy with his car despite his strong FP2 showing, insisting Mercedes and Red Bull would be ahead in qualifying and the race — a view his new teammate Ricciardo shared. Pérez was disappointed with his qualifying-simulation pace relative to Verstappen but pleased with his race-run performance. After Friday’s sessions, Toto Wolff expected Mercedes and Red Bull to be in a close “dogfight” throughout the weekend.