Bahrain GP: Bridgestone race notes

Bridgestone & Ferrari score second 1-2 of season!

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello scored their second 1-2 of the 2004 season this afternoon on their Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres to take the honours at the first ever Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Starting from the front row, the pair and their tyres made light work of the tough conditions created by this morning's sand storm and rain. And as Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello took the chequered flag watched by members of the Bahrain Royal Family and numerous dignitaries from the surrounding region, they bagged another 10 and 8 points respectively to head the points table with totals of 30 and 21 points each.

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro continues to stretch its constructors' lead with 51 points, 29 ahead of their nearest rivals. Fellow Bridgestone runners in the Sauber Petronas, Jordan Ford and Wilux Minardi Cosworth teams were not so fortunate but will no doubt make a renewed comeback with the first of the European races in San Marino in three weeks time.

Hiroshi Yasukawa Director, Bridgestone Motorsport:

"First of all I would like to thank and congratulate the Bridgestone Motorsport team, especially the technical personnel who have worked particularly hard to produce race winning tyres for this unknown but fantastic circuit. We are delighted that a Bridgestone equipped team Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has become the first team to win here in Bahrain, they thoroughly deserve their success. Our first visit to Bahrain has been extremely memorable. The circuit is state-of-the-art and a great credit to Bahrain whilst the welcome experienced by the Formula 1 teams has been overwhelming. We expect Formula One will have a strong future here."

Hisao Suganuma Technical Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport:

"Another great 1-2 finish for Bridgestone and Ferrari. Today's result signified our strong tyre performance in tough conditions. Without knowing the track characteristics before coming here it was very rewarding to see that Bridgestone's pre-race approach was correct. Assisted by our teams, our pre-race simulation technology was clearly a success. We will have another new circuit in Shanghai later in the season so we shall be working hard with the same approach to try to develop competitive specifications for that circuit too. But now we return to Europe where we shall test during the three week gap before the San Marino Grand Prix in order to maintain our competitiveness. Our work never stops!"

Ross Brawn, Technical Director, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro:

"For us that was relatively straight forward - I was surprised. The strategy was good, the Bridgestone tyres were fantastic and everything was perfect. What Ferrari has built over the years is some great partnerships. It's a bit cliché but it's much bigger than just Ferrari it's Bridgestone, Shell - it's all the people who are part of the Ferrari family. They all care as much as we do and you see the results on the track."

-bridgestone-