Ralf Schumacher today hailed Bahrain's new Formula One circuit as the best yet after becoming the first driver to complete a lap of the facility, albeit as a passenger.
"It's the best, most modern, I have seen," the German Williams driver said after being shown around the track by circuit officials. "It is complete. They are doing an amazing job."
"From my drive around this circuit it is obvious that it will be fast, challenging and very demanding," Schumacher said.
"It has a combination of slow and very fast corners with a very, very long straight. The most important thing in Formula One is overtaking and today I have seen three opportunities for that."
Bahrain is due to host a grand prix, the first country in the Middle East to do so, at the desert track south of Manama on April 4th. It will be the third round of the championship.