STRATEGY GUIDE: What are the tactical options for the Bahrain GP?

It’s taken 16 races but finally an engine not made by Mercedes has powered a driver to pole position in 2026. It was the Red Bull Powertrains/Ford unit bolted to the back of Max Verstappen that did the business at Sepang.

Alongside him on the front row, he has Lewis Hamilton, with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc just behind… but the sense in Sepang is that Qualifying positions aren’t going to count for very much on race day.

Our Bahraini hosts this weekend have bought a little bit of Sakhir to South East Asia, with illuminated palm trees and shaded couches in the style of the Bahrain International Circuit, but what they’re really bought is the sort of rough asphalt and extreme temperatures we’re used to seeing in the Bahrain Grand Prix. After two races with virtually no tyre degradation, we’re going to see three races’ worth of deg in one afternoon.