2004 Bahrain Grand Prix

The 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix, otherwise known as the I Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, was the third round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, on 4 April 2004.'Bahrain GP, 2004', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr716.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher claim a third straight victory of the season, as Bahrain made its F1 debut as a host nation.
Qualifying had seen track temperatures spike at almost 60°C, although that was not enough to deny Schumacher his familiar spot on pole position. Teammate Rubens Barrichello would complete the front row for , with the two s sharing the second row, and the s claiming the third.
However, while high temperatures were no issue for Ferrari over one lap, they had played havoc with their Bridgestone tyres in long runs, and hence were a huge concern ahead of the race. Fortunately for them a twenty degree drop on Sunday brought the Bridgestones back into a more comfortable operating window, and hence destroyed the hopes of any anti-Ferrari challenge.
As such the two Ferraris were able to pull away smartly from the front of the grid at the start, although both Schumacher and Barrichello locked up into the tight right-hander. Behind, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher worked to fend off Takuma Sato, while Jarno Trulli streaked past Jenson Button to claim sixth.
The race for victory was soon over as Schumacher and Barrichello checked out at the head of the field, with the German ace dancing away from the Brazilian as well. Behind, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Kimi Räikkönen were storming their way up through the field after having poor runs in qualifying, although Räikkönen soon lost out to Christian Klien as the faded towards the end of the first stint.
Räikkönen's race ended a few moments later as his Mercedes engine blew itself apart, leaving David Coulthard to head their challenge at the lower end of the top ten. Up ahead, meanwhile, Sato would find himself having to defend heavily from Ralf Schumacher as the first stops loomed, only for an over ambitious move from the German ace to send the Williams-BMW spinning at turn two.
Ralf would limp back to the pits for checks, just as brother Michael swept into the pits to make his first stop. That handed the lead to Barrichello, Montoya and then Sato as they made their subsequent stops, before Schumacher was promoted back into the lead for the rest of the afternoon.
Elsewhere, Button was up to fourth as the Sato/Ralf Schumacher duel unscrambled itself, while Coulthard and Webber caused a stir, exiting the pitlane side-by-side. Klien, meanwhile, would continue his strong run by bullying Felipe Massa into a mistake, before putting himself into the gravel traps while chasing a spot in the top ten.
The race would calm down until the final round of stops, where Sato managed to claim sixth from Coulthard, while Button and Jarno Trulli fought for fourth. They were both catching third placed Montoya as the final laps ticked away, with the Colombian ace struggling with his brakes.
Indeed, with several laps still to run the BAR-Honda dived past the Williams to claim third, followed by Trulli a lap later. Montoya's plummet continued as he slipped behind Sato, Alonso and teammate Ralf Schumacher, with another train of cars closing in on the back of the Williams as they started the penultimate lap.
Out front, meanwhile, Michael Schumacher cruised through the final stint to secure another impressive victory, while teammate Barrichello secure second to hand Ferrari a one-race advantage in terms of points. Button, meanwhile, secured his second successive podium finish ahead of Trulli, with Sato, Alonso, Ralf Schumacher and Webber claiming the remaining points. Montoya, meanwhile, would retire at the start of the final lap with a gearbox failure, stopping alongside the pitwall.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher continued his perfect start to the season with victory in Malaysia, leaving the second round with a full points tally of twenty points. Teammate Rubens Barrichello was second, seven behind already, while Juan Pablo Montoya had moved up into third after his second place finish. Jenson Button had also moved up courtesy of his podium finish, with Felipe Massa having been the only driver to add their name to the score sheet.
In the Constructors Championship had almost secure a whole race weekend's advantage in terms of points, leaving the second round with 33 points to their name. That translated into a sixteen point lead over in second, while were in third, a further three behind. were next ahead of , while completed the scorers list.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
4 	Ralf Schumacher 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
5 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
7 	Jarno Trulli 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
8 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
9 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
10 	Takuma Sato 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
14 	Mark Webber 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
16 	Cristiano da Matta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
17 	Olivier Panis 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
19 	Giorgio Pantano 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Anthony Davidson 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
37 	Björn Wirdheim 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
38 	Ricardo Zonta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
39 	Timo Glock 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
40 	Bas Leinders 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1 Report===
===Q2 Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:30.751 	1:30.139 	—
2 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:31.283 	1:30.530 	+0.391s
3 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:30.247 	1:30.581 	+0.442s
4 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:29.968 	1:30.633 	+0.494s
5 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:31.135 	1:30.827 	+0.688s
6 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	1:31.131 	1:30.856 	+0.717s
7 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:31.103 	1:30.971 	+0.832s
8 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:31.001 	1:31.686 	+1.547s
9 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	1:31.329 	1:31.717 	+1.578s
10 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	1:31.364 	1:31.719 	+1.580s
11 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:31.203 	1:31.731 	+1.592s
12 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:31.868 	1:32.332 	+2.193s
13 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:32.152 	1:32.536 	+2.397s
14 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	1:31.945 	1:32.625 	+2.486s
15* 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:32.640 	1:33.506 	+3.367s
16 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	1:33.598 	1:34.105 	+3.966s
17 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:31.040 	1:34.130 	+3.991s
18 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	1:34.879 	1:34.584 	+4.445s
19* 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	1:35.632 	1:35.787 	+5.648s
20* 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:30.353 	— 	—
Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/755/bahrain/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Bahrain 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
** Heidfeld, Baumgartner and Räikkönen were awarded ten place grid penalties for changing their engines.
===Grid===
** Bruni would start the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	57 	1:28:34.875 	1 	10
2 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	57 	+1.367s 	2 	8
3 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	57 	+26.687s 	6 	6
4 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	57 	+32.214s 	7 	5
5 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	57 	+52.460s 	5 	4
6 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	57 	+53.156s 	16 	3
7 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	57 	+58.155s 	4 	2
8 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	14 	1
9 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	8 	
10 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	9 	
11 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	11 	
12 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	13 	
13* 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	56 	Gearbox 	3 	
14 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	12 	
15 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	18 	
16 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	55 	+2 Laps 	15 	
17 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	52 	+5 Laps 	17 	
Ret 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	50 	Pneumatic 	10 	
Ret 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	44 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	7 	Engine 	19 	
Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Bahrain 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Montoya was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* First Bahrain Grand Prix to be staged.'2004 Bahrain GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2004&gp=Bahrain%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
** Also the first Grand Prix to be held at the Bahrain International Circuit.
* 73rd career victory for Michael Schumacher.'3. Bahrain 2004', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/bahrein.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
* secured their 170th victory as a constructor and engine supplier.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher continued his charge towards the title with his third win in three races in , ending the weekend on a maximum score of 30 points. Rubens Barrichello was now the only driver within a win's worth of points of the German ace, making the German the favourite for the title already. Jenson Button, meanwhile, had moved into third after a second successive podium, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso completing the scorers.
In the Constructors Championship looked to be in a class of their own, having dropped just three points across the opening three rounds. They therefore had a crushing 29 point lead over second placed , while slipped to third, three of the French manufacturer. , meanwhile, had drawn level with the Anglo-German alliance, with completing the top five.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	30 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	21 	
3 	Jenson Button 	15 	1
4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	12 	1
5 	Fernando Alonso 	11 	
6 	Jarno Trulli 	11 	
7 	Ralf Schumacher 	7 	
8 	Takuma Sato 	4 	4
9 	David Coulthard 	4 	1
10 	Felipe Massa 	1 	1
11 	Mark Webber 	1 	7
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	51 	
2 	 	22 	1
3 	 	19 	1
4 	 	19 	
5 	 	4 	
6 	 	1 	
7 	 	1 	1
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2004 Grands Prix
Category:Bahrain Grand Prix