Bahrain circuit finds concrete solution to drain cover issue

Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit has filled troublesome drains with concrete and carried out additional welding work ahead of Saturday’s season-opener after loose covers halted Formula One testing last week.

The governing FIA said in a note on Wednesday that remedial works had been carried out around turns seven and 11, with welding at certain areas around the track.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had said last week that more checks were needed after testing was halted two days in a row amid fears the latest high-downforce cars were making such incidents more likely with their aerodynamic suction.

“Maybe these kind of things can be checked a bit more,” Verstappen said. “We know that this is a potential problem with these cars and when you go to certain tracks you know where the drain covers are.”

The separate incidents revived memories of a more serious one that caused considerable and costly damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari during practice for last November’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.