Bahrain GP: 6 things you need to know

Last year's Bahrain GP saw some of the best racing action of the season, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fighting for the lead from the first corner to the last of the 57-lap race.

Fans worldwide were treated to a sensational finish, as Hamilton spectacularly held off his teammate in the final stages despite running on the slower tyre.

However, it transpired that Lewis had turned up his engine's performance to compensate, the first point of conflict in what proved to be a turbulent year for the relationship of the two drivers.

After Nico's claims that the world champion intentionally drove slowly in Shanghai last week, the rib-poking rivalry looks right back on the boil.

What better venue to see things play out on track? If the racing's half as good as last time, we're in for a treat.

The Bahrain International Circuit has been on the F1 calendar for eleven years, but last season was the first time the race was run at night after floodlights were installed.

Huge run-off areas give the impression of an ‘easy' circuit, but higher than average tyre degradation and unsighted apexes in Sector Two will make it difficult for drivers to look after their strategies while posting consistent lap times.

They'll also have to judge how aggressively to drive, as the temptation to get caught up in battles for position could compromise pace as the race unfolds.

Pirelli have selected the Soft and Medium compounds for the weekend - the same as last year - so a two-stop strategy looks likely again this time round.

The 2011 Bahrain GP was postponed and eventually cancelled after pro-democracy protests led to more than 30 deaths in the region.

Though several nations have praised Bahrain's government for progress made on human rights since, that record has been brought under serious scrutiny this week after the release of a report from Amnesty International.

The charity says that "torture, arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force against peaceful activists" remains common in Bahrain, concluding that "authorities have failed to deliver crucial reforms to end repression".

Nearly half a million people signed a petition three years ago calling for the boycott of the race. Despite Bernie's assertions to the contrary, sport and politics can't be neatly disentangled.

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg has been unwinding on the tennis court this week, tweeting pictures of his improving forehand to his 380k followers.

He ought to be careful though: former McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya injured himself doing the same thing prior to the Bahrain GP in 2005. It allowed reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa to take his seat for the weekend, where he set the lap record of 1.31.447s which still stands today. Fault!

F1's return to Bahrain marks the first anniversary of Crashtor Maldonado's most spectacular incident of 2014, where he flipped the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez after braking too late in the entry to Turn One.

The Venezuelan will be looking to finish his first grand prix of the season on Sunday, having failed to reach the chequered flag in each of the three races so far.

With such a high accident rate, it can only be a matter of time before someone invents ‘Maldonado calamity bingo' to liven up viewing of the midfield. That someone may well be Top Gear.

Pastor, of course, drives car #13, which in regular bingo is usually preceded by the words "unlucky for some". You couldn't make it up...

Last week, Lewis Hamilton courted controversy on the podium, after spraying hostess Liu Siying with champagne at point blank range.

The 22-year-old real estate employee played down the incident, stating that "foreign media are more sensitive about the topic than local media," and that it only lasted for "one or two seconds."

Still, it got us thinking: should bystanders on the podium be better equipped to fend off nuisance drivers?

Suggestions in the office ranged from cagoules to umbrellas, although perhaps arming hostesses with their own champagne would make Lewis and co think twice about targeting the defenceless?

We're open to ideas.

For this week, though, the Spray Lewis Back campaign must be put on ice, as the top three finishers in Bahrain will instead receive bottles of rosewater due to Bahrain's no-alcohol policy.