The Bahrain Grand Prix At Bahrain International Circuit is Sunday, April 21, at 8 a.m. EDT. Be sure to catch all the action on NBC Sports. For race fans out there that will not have access to NBC Sports when the lights go out, be sure to catch the live stream online by signing up for NBC Sports LiveExtra here.
Bahrain was cancelled from the Formula 1 calendar last year when political unrest generated major backlash against the sport. Unable to guarantee the security of the venue, Formula 1 opted to give Bahrain a one-year hiatus. For 2013, the Bahrain Grand Prix is finally back!
A key Western ally country that has hosted the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, the Kingdom of Bahrain has endured two years of protest and street violence in a desperate attempt to bring forth democratic reform. Given the tension, many citizens of Bahrain regard the Grand Prix as a distraction from the country's urgent political problems.
Despite the opposition, the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix will run as planned. In fact, Bahrain Crown Prince Salman al-Khalifa said over 15,000 people have already visited the circuit on Friday and more were expected on Sunday. Salman al-Khalifa and the Bahraini government assured the racing event will not e used as a curtain to pull close the nation's urgent political problems.
"What I would like to say is let's focus on what's positive, let's build upon the platform that we have, and let's celebrate this event with Bahrainis who are really passionate," Salman al-Khalifa told reporters on Saturday.
"This weekend is really about sport."
The Formula 1 grid will be led by a Mercedes Benz car once again this week, but it will be Nico Rosberg, not World-Champion Lewis Hamilton, that will race from pole position.The qualifying time was 1:32.330. A historic Bahrain pole, this is the first time Mercedes-Benz claimed a back-to-back pole since the 1950's.
Title defender Sebastian Vettel will start the race from second while Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, and Paul di Resta round the Top 5. While Lewis Hamilton, and Mark Webber both delivered hot laps that were good for fourth and fifth on the grid, Hamilton and Mark Webber received penalties for colliding with Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and for a gearbox change, respectively.
The Bahrain Grand Prix At Bahrain International Circuit is Sunday, April 21, at 8 a.m. EDT. Be sure to catch all the action on NBC Sports. For race fans out there that will not have access to NBC Sports when the lights go out, be sure to catch the live stream online for free signing up by singing up fro NBC Sports LiveExtra here.
