Mark previews the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix
After spending a couple of days in Dubai, Mark flew into Manama on Thursday morning to begin his preparations for the Bahrain Grand Prix. It’s a big weekend because he’s celebrating his 200th grand prix start.
“It’s amazing to think it’s 200 starts already,” says Mark. “I can remember my first race like it was yesterday, but that’s the way it goes. Time passes very quickly. It’s a good milestone and I’m proud to have made the 200-club. There have been some good moments along the way too.”
Mark hopes to complete the round numbers this weekend by scoring his 100th career points finish, although the job will be made harder by the three-place grid penalty he picked up following a collision with Jean-Eric Vergne in China last weekend.
“The grid penalty is going to make my life more difficult this weekend,” he says, “but at least you can overtake on this track because there are several long straights with slow corners at the end. And you’ve got the DRS zones too.
“We hope the car will be competitive this weekend. We need to have a good, clean Friday to prepare for the weekend ahead; if we can do that, we’ll have the best chance of getting a good result come Sunday afternoon.”
Amazingly, given the track’s desert location, there was a light rain shower on Thursday afternoon – like there was on race morning last year. But Pirelli aren’t expecting to use their intermediate or rain tyres this weekend, only their medium and hard compounds.
“The asphalt is very abrasive here,” says Mark, “and the circuit characteristics are very different too. China is a place where the front tyres are worked hardest, whereas it’s the rear tyres here, due to the amount of accelerating we do away from slow corners. It’ll be interesting to see how that mixes things up.”
// ends
27 Comments
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Beki Heath
on April 19, 2013Good luck Mark for the weekend & race – remember , what will be will be! Enjoy!
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Ashley Takwalai
on April 19, 2013Champ ,keep your chin up ,you will come good ,you always do ,we are all praying for you so you do not have any more uncontrollable human mishaps any. More this year, we are proud of you . Asha1(Melbourne Pitt Lane .)
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Jenn
on April 19, 2013Congrats on your 200th start! Looking forward to seeing you battle it out and take your 100th finish. We’re watching and cheering for you from California! Traveling to Barcelona in May. Hoping you make podium. Sure would love some champagne! Cheers
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kathy
on April 19, 2013Go Mark Go. I will be routing for you as always. 🙂
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Mark
on April 19, 2013It can only get better Mark – go out and have some fun and enjoy it!
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Elszy
on April 19, 2013Congratulations Mark on 200 grand prix runs. Time to set a number one time since you’re the ‘birthday boy’and you deserve it! Kick it Mark! Enjoy!
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Robyn McGowan
on April 19, 2013Wow! Great effort the 200 club looking forward to a great weekend of racing Mark.
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Huy
on April 19, 2013All aussie are behind you.
Good luck with your 200th race. -
amer
on April 19, 2013Happy 200th race Aussie Grit…from Queanbeyan to the world you have shone a path for other Aussies to compete on the best motoring stage in the world Keep striving & keep climbing…go hard son !
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rob
on April 19, 2013Well done on your 200th mark.go hard and let’s get some points.
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JP
on April 19, 2013Congrats on the 200th start, that is an amazing achievement. Dont see the grid penalty as a difficulty, see it as a challenge, show those youngsters this weekend how its done. Good luck.
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stuart
on April 19, 2013200! and there is a saying in Siberia
A frost is not a frost until it in 40 below, a drink is not a drink until it is over 40 and a woman is not a woman until she is 40
Let us add to that, a man is not a man til 40 and an F1 driver the same,
You are the most well rounded, balanced and loved driver in F1
So like good wine, good woman, your time is about to come my boy
All the best from Qld -
Hillman
on April 19, 2013Congrats mate. I was at your very first race in Melbourne and it doesn’t seem that long ago. Followed you from carts and would just like say how proud we all are in Australia (and Tassie
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Jill and Brian
on April 19, 2013Congratulations Mark on your 200th GP start. Chin up and battle hard mate. Were with you all the way, go out there and enjoy and get those points. x
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christine (tasmania)
on April 19, 2013Well done Mark on reaching the 200 milesone. Good luck in Bahrain. I,m sure you,ll be up there on the podium, just a shame you,ll only be drinking the rosewater substitute.
Love Christine (tasmania)
ps Look forward to running in your adventure run again in December. -
Marcus
on April 19, 2013Amazing to think it’s 200 with you competitor and mate Alonso.
Strong start today with P7 and P2!
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Stu
on April 20, 2013Well done on the big 200! Have really enjoyed watching you race over the last years. Good luck for next stanza.
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darryl
on April 20, 2013You really need to stay in F1 stick it up Vettel
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Paul vee
on April 20, 2013Looking forward to seeing an exciting race this week end . What happens last week did you forget to tip the mechanics Lol
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Juzzy
on April 20, 2013Congrats on your 200th race. Will be cheering you on from Australia. Enjoy it. See you on the podium.
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Scuderia Ferrari
on April 20, 2013have a great 200th race , i really hope you can get a podium 🙂
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Scott Hewitt
on April 20, 2013Congrats on your 200th start, 8th isn’t that far back and with the car looking good your only worry is that lunatic German that’s in your team…
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george stanleygeorge
on April 21, 2013go aussi mark u can win from an aussie who attended the 1956 gp at albert go aussie
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Dina A.
on April 21, 2013200th GRAND PRIX !!!
CONGRATS MARK!!
I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!
BEST OF LUCK FOR THE RACE!! KEEP BOXING CHAMP… -
Rana
on April 21, 2013Congratulations for your 200th grand prix. I wish many other succeeded races. Enjoy the race tomorrow. Best wishes.
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Carol
on April 21, 2013Congratulations Mark on your 200th – it is an outstanding achievement and only highly regarded contributing drivers get to last that long in F1. You are highly respected by the other teams and drivers in F1 which says a lot. You have everything it takes to win a Championship Mark, except for the support of your current team – they want to make use of your skills and knowledge to develop the car and to achieve constructors points, but they only want Seb to win the Drivers Championships. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by accepting an offer from another team such as Ferrari or Lotus. Looking forward to also celebrating your 250th F1 start Mark, by which time you will have a well deserved Drivers Championship trophy on your shelf! You continue to make us Aussies proud, good luck for this special milestone race.
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Perry
on May 6, 2013Hi Mark congrats on everything you done for your self in F1 but we heard rumors that you will be giving up F1
Hay mite I will not have a 5.4 ft GER. making me quit a sport that I love , i would go to a another team and make his life like hale next year because if it wasn’t for u he will not be wher he is
I hope you stay or I will be giving up F1 and a lot others to
When you have DNF’s I change the Chanel so I hope u stay.
Good luck this weekend
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