interview COVID-19 has pulled a number on the world at large - professional sports across the globe were hit especially hard, with entire seasons of events being cancelled owing to the alarming spread of the coronavirus. Formula-1, the pinnacle of motorsport, was also a victim of the pandemic in 2020, but in true upper-echelon fashion, managed to work its way through a season - sans spectators in the stands. Towards the end of the season last year, it was clear that certain countries simply wouldn’t be able to host their respective races owing to the dangers that the virus presented to the athletes and personnel. This left some countries such as the Kingdom of Bahrain in a unique (and advantageous) position to host two races back to back at the end of the year. Since then, of course, the Kingdom has taken the challenges of COVID-19 in stride - successfully hosting two nail biting backto-back races last year and the spectacular Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021. I had the (socially-distanced) opportunity to pixellate with Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen of team Alfa Romeo, prior to the historic and one-of-a-kind Sakhir GP, to get their thoughts on what undoubtedly is a hallmark era in sport’s history. If you’re not an avid F1 fanatic, the name Antonio Giovinazzi may be unfamiliar, and you’d be forgiven since this is the Italian’s third-ever season with the pinnacle of motor racing, having debuted in 2019 alongside Kimi “Iceman” Raikkonen with Alfa Romeo. Kimi on the other hand, needs no introduction to even the most passive of motorsport fans – an absolute Formula one legend and one of the stalwarts of the V10 era, the Iceman as he’s monikered is as legendary to the sport as was Niki Lauda. RACING THROUGH A throwback to the time Sangeeth Mullassery had a chat with Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi 46 April 2021 www.bahrainthismonth.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==