166 replies to this topic

[Forma1]

Just a few days have gone by and we are already facing a new race weekend. I am pretty excited about it. The track itself is rather demanding on the rear, especially under braking. Lateral forces are a bit under the average at Sakhir, but the longitudinal forces are extremely high, especially coming into the first corner.
Which car can have the upper hand? A car which has good braking stability and tracion.

I would bet for Red Bull and Lotus this weekend. I think Kimi will be in a fantastic shape, Red Bull will present themselves in a more competetive fashion this time, Mercedes will be there, especially in qualy, Ferrari will be pretty strong as well, but the two teams mentioned at first could be the squad to beat this time. Since there are load of slow corners and heavy accelerating zones, the Red Bull-style exhaust configuration which is used by RB, Lotus (and Williams) could be a major help for them, cos it produces more downforce under accelerating, then the Coanda-style one.

Have a nice weekend with tasty rubber and fuel smell!

[Kelateboy]

My crystal ball tells me that Vettel and RBR will have a good race weekend in Bahrain.

[SamH123]

You could make a case for any one of RB/Merc/Ferrari/Lotus. Personally I think we could see a grid that looks like this though:
1) VET
2) HAM
3) WEB
4) ROS

so I'm not convinced that Ferrari/Lotus are going to be as strong as predicted

[Forma1]

You could make a case for any one of RB/Merc/Ferrari/Lotus. Personally I think we could see a grid that looks like this though:
1) VET
2) HAM
3) WEB
4) ROS

so I'm not convinced that Ferrari/Lotus are going to be as strong as predicted

My order for the qualy: Kimi, Ham, Vettel, Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Webber

My order for the race: Kimi, Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Webber, Massa.

It is just the thing my instinct tells to me, but of course I pray for Fernando as always.

[OfficeLinebacker]

My crystal ball tells me that Vettel and RBR will have a good race weekend in Bahrain.

You and I must have the same crystal ball.

[Lotusseven]

My crystalball says Kimi Raikonen is going up,up,up probably the winner .
Lewis Hamilton looks good,but the black card for this weekend is Adrian Sutil.

Vettel is gonna have a bad friday it´s going down.
Webber, Grosjean, Bottas and di Resta does not looks good either.
Massa will have a bad sunday...

[sock22]

You could make a case for any one of RB/Merc/Ferrari/Lotus. Personally I think we could see a grid that looks like this though:
1) VET
2) HAM
3) WEB
4) ROS

so I'm not convinced that Ferrari/Lotus are going to be as strong as predicted

Don't forget that Webber has a grid penalty, though I agree that Red Bull and Mercedes should be strong in qualifying.

[Richard T]

Good morning,
Only 3 hours to go before this weekends first free practice session. We are almost back to European time now with a 8AM (UK) and 9AM(CET) start time.



Enjoy your friday F1-breakfast

[SamH123]

Session will only really start at 8:30am UK time, track is dusty with probably high wear rates

Edited by SamH123, 19 April 2013 - 06:54.

[Kelateboy]

Grosjean will have a new chassis.

Vettel will be trying vented hubs (legalized Williams version) on his car.

Everyone but the Mercedes duo has completed their installation laps.

[Forma1]

Heikki is back in action for this and the Spanish weekend. Won't do plenty of runs cos they clearly fear they would run out of tyres. Let's see if he can beat Pic at hist first taste of the new Caterham.

[Timstr11]

Anyone noticed the lights under the McLaren floor?

[Raziel]

Anyone noticed the lights under the McLaren floor?

yeah, the lights are back from last year

[SamH123]

Anyone noticed the lights under the McLaren floor?

Yeah, they were talking about them on Sky. I think they are lasers, maybe measuring ride height or something similar

[nomi]

Any live internet streams for FP1 & 2?

[SUPRAF1]

I have a feeling Merc's tyre wear will be terrible.

[Timstr11]

yeah, the lights are back from last year

I reckon it's for flow imaging?

[Kelateboy]

Heikki is back in action for this and the Spanish weekend. Won't do plenty of runs cos they clearly fear they would run out of tyres. Let's see if he can beat Pic at hist first taste of the new Caterham.

Running out of tyres. Normally teams will only run 1 set of primes for FP1.

[Oho]

Kovalainen thingy certainly reeks of desperation as suggested by Sky commentators.

[Raziel]

I reckon it's for flow imaging?

naaah too much "Pimp my Ride" at MTC!






j/k

I really have no idea what are they for

[Niceone]

I reckon it's for flow imaging?

Tractor beams to get more downforce

[ViMaMo]

I have a feeling Merc's tyre wear will be terrible.

Speaking historically?

[Owen]

For this race, I think you'd want the Lotus.

[Yoshi]

RG on the radio: Kers is not working
Answer from Team: It's working

Edited by Yoshi, 19 April 2013 - 08:08.

[Baddoer]

McLaren installed lasers to destroy everyone on the track!

[F.M.]

The RB9 sounds a bit weird after an upshift, like a bit of a 'vibration' in RPM during the initial 2 seconds after a gearshift

[rasul]

RG on the radio: Kers is not working
Answer from Team: It's working

I can imagine everyone's outrage if it was Webber's team radio.

Ferrari looks very good so far.

[Forma1]

Breaking news:
Pirelli is still thinking of chaning the tyres, but 8 teams spent them mail not to do it. They will decide over it after this weekend, but they don't want to favour a specific team, let's say they don't want a team to make a huge jump forward due to modified tyres.

[SamH123]

Vettel didn't put a clean lap together, if you add together his best splits his lap would have been the fastest

[caso]

Pirelli made their choice and they should stick to it, now that FP1 is over.

[Ferrari2183]

Qualifying: Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Alonso

Race: Raikkonen, Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg

Rear limited circuit so I don't expect Ferrari to have the pace for the win but Alonso will be up there. Raikkonen can probably do a one stopper with the compounds for this race...

[Oho]

Pirelli made their choice and they should stick to it, now that FP1 is over.

Its not for the race but for the remainder of the season.

But yes, unless there are compelling reasons they should stick to their guns, otherwise accusations, well founded I might add, of bias would start making rounds.

Edited by Oho, 19 April 2013 - 10:11.

[Jovanotti]

Breaking news:
Pirelli is still thinking of chaning the tyres, but 8 teams spent them mail not to do it. They will decide over it after this weekend, but they don't want to favour a specific team, let's say they don't want a team to make a huge jump forward due to modified tyres.

If 8 teams can live with it, then there's absolutely no point in changing tyres, simple as that.

[SpaMaster]

Earlier every team except one or two were dissing their tyres. Now Pirelli seems to have said 'enough is enough, we will do what you want, but there is one team that will beneifit mega from this'. Now, all those crowing have crawled back to their burrows.

[apoka]

Breaking news:
Pirelli is still thinking of chaning the tyres, but 8 teams spent them mail not to do it. They will decide over it after this weekend, but they don't want to favour a specific team, let's say they don't want a team to make a huge jump forward due to modified tyres.

Source?

I think at least RB and Merc pushed for changing the tyres (and there would be one more team not sending messages to Pirelli).

Teams are primarily worried about their success. If they believe that the tyres are crap and not good for racing, but not having them would mean to be less competitive, they will ask Pirelli not to change the tyres.

Edited by apoka, 19 April 2013 - 09:18.

[caso]

Its not for the race but for the remainder of the season.

But yes, unless there are compelling reasons they should stick to their guns, otherwise accusations, well found I might add, of bias would start making rounds.

Thanks for clearing that up. I think the same way.

[SamH123]

Source?

I think at least RB and Merc pushed for changing the tyres (and there would be one more team not sending messages to Pirelli).

Teams are primarily worried about their success. If they believe that the tyres are crap and not good for racing, but not having them would mean to be less competitive, they will ask Pirelli not to change the tyres.

Hembrey said it on the Sky coverage of FP1. Although he did say it in a way that made it sound like he had plucked the '8' figure out of mid-air

[Yoshi]

http://www.f1fanatic...gressive-tyres/

But according to Hembery eight of the eleven teams have told them not to change the tyres: “It’s really bizarre because behind the scenes we actually get a lot of lobbying from people telling us not to change things.”

[Shiroo]

well I would say that biggest opponent to any changes is Lotus

[Lotusseven]

Oskari Saari ‏tweeted:
@H_Kovalainen: The car is much harder to drive than 2012 Caterham. Grip level of the fronts much higher than rears -> rear deg too high.

[Yoshi]

well I would say that biggest opponent to any changes is Lotus

And also Ferrari I guess.

[anti]

Practice 1: :: Sector times :: Lap Chart

Edited by anti, 19 April 2013 - 10:49.

[OO7]

How on Earth can it be raining.

[Clatter]

How on Earth can it be raining.

Must be global warming to blame.

[Jovanotti]

Not gonna be an issue, it's way too hot.

[SpaMaster]

Must be global warming to blame.

Always a great way to dismiss it.

[Clatter]

Always a great way to dismiss it.

Too right.

[darkkis]

Williams does seem a bit better this weekend, doesn't it?

[bauss]

the merc is horrible in the second sector, below par in the 3rd and good in the first... confusing

[bonjon1979a]

the merc is horrible in the second sector, below par in the 3rd and good in the first... confusing

Very odd isn't it. Not quite sure what to make of it really.