F1 - Ferrari & BMW Take the Top 3 Spots in Bahrain

Commentary from Claudia Beckford


This past weekend we witnessed the Ferrari team take once more the lead; as the Brazilian driver Felipe Massa won the third race of the Formula One calendar - the Bahrain Grand Prix. Massa is Ferrari's second driver but he counts with an extend background and plenty of experience which helped out to obtain the first points of the new season.

Another impressive performance was that of BMW-Sauber Polish leading driver Robert Kubica who began the race in pole position but eventually lost spots and finished third in the overall race. BMW boss Mario Theissen made a odd remark regarding their new hard-line approach as it is clearly reflected on the constructors' championship standings - currently in first place - basically the first time in the team's history as well as their three consecutive podium appearances in the last three competitions.

Despite Kubica's his third position arrival and fourth for team mate Heidfeld they gathered enough points to be placed in first position just one point from team Ferrari.

"It's true we are ahead of schedule - which concerns me a bit because if we go on like this we will get criticised for third or fourth place in future!" joked Theissen.

On the other hand, the alarms have been going off at the McLaren team due to the recent agony leading driver Lewis Hamilton has had to put up with. First there was his mistake at the start of the race followed by a distraction coalition into Renault 's vehicle driven by the Spaniard Fernando Alonso; as the two drivers speeded up out of turn three, Hamilton came close to Alonso's back axle and rode up on his right rear tyre losing its front wing. A very unfortunate fate for Mercedes which doomed Hamilton's chance and transformed it into the worst race finish; thirteenth position.

In the view of some; Alonso had deliberately lifted the accelerator but even Hamilton admitted that if there was anybody to blame was him not Alonso. Yet; Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds holds data to show the Spaniard driver had not wrong doing in the matter.

After the eminent blow the 23-year-old Briton had not many choices but to continue and end his battle only that this time the gap between him and his Ferrari rivals Raikkonen and Massa was deeper as it meant many precious championship points.

Bahrain has been tough on McLaren and Hamilton who is used to error free performances; perhaps it is time to reassess the dynamics of the team as the championship is becoming a three way battle; in which BMW Sauber is showing sufficient pace to overcome McLaren and fight for more wins.

Nevertheless, we are still three weeks from the following F1 race in Spain and the Spanish racetracks have always been McLaren's territory and we know that from this point forward each race will be more difficult especially now that the lines have been crossed and the speed knights' motivations are in full gear.



About the Author

Claudia Beckford provides outstanding Formula One content as well as information in the sports betting industry.

How much does living in Bahrain cost?

The overall cost of living in Bahrain is similar to that in most European countries, if you’re living in the style of the average western expatriate.

But the general lack of taxation has a significant impact on the cost of certain items, e.g. cars. On the other hand, the cost of accommodation is sometimes high, as is that of certain food items, particularly imported foods. If you buy internationally recognised branded foods and household goods, you might pay higher prices than in your home country, but there are usually plenty of cheaper locally and regionally produced alternatives that are of excellent quality. Clothing can also be expensive if you favour designer labels – this isn’t peculiar to Bahrain – although there’s little need for winter clothing.

The price of wines and spirits, where these are permitted, is slightly lower than in the UK but higher than average European prices. Electronic goods, such as televisions, hi-fis, DVD players, photographic equipment and computer hardware and software, are generally less expensive than in Europe, mainly because of lower import duties.

Utilities, such as electricity, water and gas, are subsidised to some extent by the region’s governments, which own the services (except for bottled gas supplies) in order to provide inexpensive electricity and water, mainly for the benefit of the local population. Utilities are therefore cheaper than in most European countries. However, at the height of summer, air-conditioning costs will escalate, rather as the cost of heating increases in winter in colder climates. Newcomers sometimes make the expensive mistake of keeping their air-conditioning on even when they’re out, but this is unnecessary, as air-conditioning systems reduce the temperature in your accommodation quickly when activated on your return home.

You should also allow for the cost of international telephone calls, although these are kept low by Bahrain’s government, who wants to encourage international business and investment in the region.

Your cost of living will obviously depend on your lifestyle. When you’re negotiating a work contract, it’s usual for your prospective employer to produce detailed cost of living figures for his country, which are useful in helping you to decide whether the proposed job is financially attractive or not.

Note that the cost of living is based on a moderate standard of living with basic amenities in Bahrain and is much higher than Saudi Arabia wherein the cost of living is comparatively lower. The cost of living could be more based on one's expectations and standards of living. For Example: You can get a Villa on rent for 25000 USD Per Annum which is 2083 USD per month. In Bahrain a single bedroom flat would cost 575 BHD=1529 USD /Month and Two Bedroom for 2100 USD/Month. So a Villa in Bahrain would cost approximately 3000 to 4000 USD or more. On the bottom line the cost of living in Bahrain would be 45-70% higher compared to Saudi based on moderate to high standard of living.