there is no way in the world the could NOT gain an advantage, i mean, no-one in the world has driven on the track and i presume the best teams can have till now is layout specs of the track and simulations. Williams have now tested for 25 laps there so they can know lots of details, i.e, actual physical layout of corners taking into account kerb sizes, noticble bumps, possibilities of top end gear ratios, and just so many other suspension information and traction information.
They may not have been given any real setup work time or even driver familiarity if it was gene driving but if you ask any team what helps them get setup and finding time quickly during a weekend it is going through all the data from the previous years race, analysing it and using it to prepare the car before it turns a wheel. With Bahrain, no-one has any data cos of no running but williams suddenly has acquired 25 laps (30-45mins of track time) that with a team in F1 and all the money pumped into it would be invaluable at gaining a few tenths from the off. Not to mention mitchelin getting some samples of tyre wear and effects even on old used tyres in sub race speeds. These guys are the top of their proffesion and no how to glean info from every source.
If scientists and engineers can find one small fault on a totaly destroyed space shuttle and know why it happened when it crashed and incinerated to on earth, then tyre technicians and engineers will know how to go away from bahrain and learn valuable info from their data recorded, even if it wasn't at optimum circumstances.
In my opinion, it should have been Minardi, Jordan, Toyota and Sauber who attended and opened bahrain and given 25 laps as this would have brought more sponsers intrest collectively to the event and given the struggling teams a chance to test and learn a new circuit that would benefit them on finding set-ups, but wouldn't bother the top teams if they gained a small advantage because their advantage outright is huge already and so wouldn't be any real threat to the championship result.
It was foolish of the FIA to allow a big name team to run at a circuit like that and could only have been more contraversial if it was a german driver driving his red car there instead.
This is yet another insight into how the FIA is flawed and needs a complete overhaul. They seem to believe that people have more interest in all the controversy and backbiting in F1 and not about pure racing.
now wake up and post a reply....lol
only thing better than F1....... My dream for a PLAYBOY F1 championship!!!