The Driver's Eye: Bahrain

Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson on why, with a little thought, the Bahrain International Circuit deserves a better reputation.

Talk about a contrast. From the smog of Shanghai, F1's next stop is the dust and sand of Bahrain. The amount of dust which settles on the track is very apparent from the moment everyone arrives at the circuit and from a driver's perspective, the amount of the dust that is thrown up by the diffusers is always a shock. It's also a serious problem for the cars because the dust can quickly destroy the surface of the tyres and all the teams will travel to Bahrain with the expectation that their tyres will grain quite quickly. Personally, I've always enjoyed driving at Bahrain. Considering where it's built, the circuit has quite a bit of character and, although you'd naturally expect it to be flat and featureless because it's in the middle of a desert, there are quite a few undulations in the lay-out - which is something that always gives a circuit plenty of character. It doesn't have the biggest fanbase and, although you always know that there is a huge television audience watching you when you're out on the track, it does feel as if something is missing. The atmosphere, the cheering of the fans for different drivers, the flags...all those things definitely add something to the whole experience of a race weekend. Since Bahrain first appeared on the calendar in 2004, we've seen the circuit in two different guises, but the design they have reverted back to for this season's race is my preferred one. The lay-out used when F1 was last in Bahrain two years ago seemed a little bit Mickey Mouse to be honest, and the new configuration didn't add anything to the entertainment - for the drivers or the fans. The lay-out being used this weekend feels far smaller, more compact and busier than Shanghai even though the two circuits don't vary a great deal in length - which is surprising because it certainly doesn't feel that way inside the car! In my view, it's a track which gets a bad rap - I think people see the circuit is in the desert and automatically assume: 'boring'. But it's not that. From inside the cockpit, it certainly can be a frustrating circuit if you can't get it right, but it's also a circuit that rewards a driver who puts a lot of thought into his lap. If you can pick your fights with it, you'll come away satisfied with your laps, but if you let the frustration get the better of you, you'll never be quick here. It's a thinker's circuit. AD Anthony Davidson's Lap of Bahrain