2880 replies to this topic

[Risil]

Race time! An intriguing qualifying session left Max Verstappen decisively clear of the two Mercedes, not to mention the rest of the field, with Ferrari, McLaren and AlphaTauri also showing promising speed. Will Verstappen's race pace hold up against Lewis? Will Red Bull regret the lack of a competitive second driver when it comes to race strategy? What can Vettel do from 18th? Can any of the chasing pack reach the podium? I have many questions, which bodes well (for me).

Race starts at 4pm BST, i.e. four and a half hours from now. In other words you can watch this and then catch the MotoGP later. Who are you watching out for? How excited/depressed are you feeling? Thread below. Please keep the acrimony light, for now. Enjoy!

[ConsiderAndGo]

Comfortable win for Verstappen.

The battle >3 is going to be brilliant!

Weather looks mental too. Cold by Bahrain standards and windy as hell.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 28 March 2021 - 10:33.

[w1Y]

Max now in a position where he is expected to win.

Anything other than a win will be a kick in the gut for the team.

Most interested to see mclaren, AT and Ferrari.

[Ali623]

Charles could possibly jump Bottas at the start, being on the softs.

[GlenWatkins]

I will be watching McLaren, thinking they may have compromised their qually set up for race pace.

[Massa]

I will be watching McLaren, thinking they may have compromised their qually set up for race pace.

Like every team during the parc ferme era

[SophieB]

F2 feature race about to start, chat F2 here:

 

https://forums.autos...-season/page-21

[A3]

[robefc]

So do we think Merc are going M-H-H whilst Max is going M-H-M (or switch the last two) based on fresh tyres remaining?

[r4mses]

Lets see if Mick pulls off one of his F2 starts and ends up in the top10 for a few corners

Edited by r4mses, 28 March 2021 - 11:13.

[ARTGP]

So do we think Merc are going M-H-H whilst Max is going M-H-M (or switch the last two) based on fresh tyres remaining?

I’m thinking we will see cat and mouse from Merc.

[MasterOfCoin]

Lets see how fast Sky will change the Max vs Lewis fight narrative, if Max checks out by the 5th lap......and Martin dozes off in the booth....

[Hellenic tifosi]

Most race simulations during testing were 2 stoppers, but track temp was much hotter. I think all front runners will try to stretch the first stint, switch to Hards and see how it goes.

The extra fresh mediums could give Red bull an advantage in case of a late SC.

[Dratini]

Lets see how fast Sky will change the Max vs Lewis fight narrative, if Max checks out by the 5th lap......and Martin dozes off in the booth....

He might not be the only one dozing off. It's all good and well if Mercedes' dominance has finally come to an end, but if it's merely been swapped out for another team/driver combination doing the same then it's status quo resumed in different colour.
 

[JimmyTheFox]

Interested in seeing the Honda powered cars pace with their apparent hybrid advantage over the others, I'm going with an all Honda podium. 👀

1) Ver
2) Gas
3) Per

[Tiakumosan]

Mercedes should put one driver on a clear 2-stops strategy and the other one on a 1-stop strategy to see how Max reacts. This is where RB's second driver is missing.

[PedroDiCasttro]

Don't forget that with Perez out of the picture, Hamilton can afford staying on track without pitting for a very long time after Verstappen pits.

 

Bottas can hold up Verstappen while Hamilton increases the gap in front. This race isn't decided yet since the second Red Bull didn't do his homework.

[Clrnc]

Perez is in a perfect position for this type of race. Harder tyres at the start then battle up front to podium

[Topsu]

Expecting the Honda engine to blow after 40+ laps when Verstappen is comfortably leading, Hamilton to take the win.

[JimmyClark]

Perez is in a perfect position for this type of race. Harder tyres at the start then battle up front to podium

Indeed. He won from the back only a few months ago...

With Masi and his trigger happy safety car finger, definititely don't write him off for a podium.

Edited by JimmyClark, 28 March 2021 - 12:26.

[GiorgioF1]

Bottas can hold up Verstappen

 

Lmao.

[Jordan44]

Otmar Szafnauer, from Aston Martin, is from side to side with the laptop in hand. He wants to find Liberty / FIA staff to show how low-rake cars (they and Mercedes) are suffering from the new aerodynamic https://twitter.com/...3501187074?s=21

[Jordan44]

Vettel gets a five-place grid penalty and three penalty points for ignoring yellow flags in qualifying yesterday #F1 #BahrainGP https://twitter.com/...9393182725?s=21

Edited by Jordan44, 28 March 2021 - 12:31.

[TomNokoe]

Mercedes has the strategic advantage IMO, and it's definitely a two-stopper, absolutely no doubt.

 

The Hard has looked a strong tyre all weekend and I doubt will be any slower than the Medium, but with all of the added durability benefits.

 

Mercedes will run M-H-H and RB will (probably) run M-M-H, but that second stint is crucial because Mercedes will have a stint length advantage on the harder tyre, and so will be able to drive the strategy at the first stop and pit earlier than RB ideally would like. This is unlikely to win them the race though, unless they gain track position at the first stop, because RB can just react to Mercedes and they will both run the Hard in the final stint.

 

But if Mercedes do pull the trigger early they will be vulnerable to traffic from both inside and outside the top 10, this is where Perez comes into play and needs to stay within Mercedes pit window, but with quite a few Soft runners inside the top 10, they may slow the pace early on and allow Max and Merc to build a gap.

 

If Red Bull somehow go M-H-M then I think Mercedes will take it because again they will have the stint length available to them at around half-distance to go to the end, with RB reluctantly responding on Mediums, or not responding at all. Plus you have to consider VSC/SC which would again play into Mercedes hands if RB had already used their 1 new Hard.

 

Another possibility is Mercedes going super-super aggressive and three stopping, which they have the tyres for and RB do not, who would be forced to either stay out or respond with a set of non-optimal Softs. For example, if Mercedes do drive the strategy early on and both teams end up taking their second stop just after half-distance, Mercedes would still have another set of lightly used Mediums to attack if need be. Again you need to consider VSC/SC in this regard, although Softs may work for RB depending on how close it is to the end of the race.

 

The only driver who I think might start on Hards is Tsunoda. For anyone else (including Perez), I think it's the wrong decision because again you are exposing yourself to an untimely VSC/SC which would leave you to complete a large portion of the race on only two Mediums, or Medium/Soft.

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 March 2021 - 12:39.

[MortenF1]

Mercedes should put one driver on a clear 2-stops strategy and the other one on a 1-stop strategy to see how Max reacts. This is where RB's second driver is missing.

Is a one-stopper doable then, without a lenghty safety car?

[Fastcake]

Vettel gets a five-place grid penalty and three penalty points for ignoring yellow flags in qualifying yesterday #F1 #BahrainGP https://twitter.com/...9393182725?s=21

What took them an entire day to work that out?

[Jordan44]

What took them an entire day to work that out?

The stewards had gone home last night when they said they were going to investigate him. He only reported to the stewards an hour ago as is a formality.

[SophieB]

What took them an entire day to work that out?

It is baffling. They only announced there was going to be an investigation at gone 7pm UK time last night, it’s all mad. 

[GiorgioF1]

Otmar Szafnauer, from Aston Martin, is from side to side with the laptop in hand. He wants to find Liberty / FIA staff to show how low-rake cars (they and Mercedes) are suffering from the new aerodynamic https://twitter.com/...3501187074?s=21

 

Wow. Lawrence must be furious    

[TomNokoe]

Vettel penalty is very harsh IMO, Mazepin was right in front of him when he spun.

[Flamini]

Otmar Szafnauer, from Aston Martin, is from side to side with the laptop in hand. He wants to find Liberty / FIA staff to show how low-rake cars (they and Mercedes) are suffering from the new aerodynamic https://twitter.com/...3501187074?s=21

 

Hilarious.

[smr]

Expect to see Perez surging through the midfield and possibly get a podium with a bit of good luck. I think Max will win. Also have a feeling there will be two or three cars out within the first few corners, near the front. 

 

Hoping for a strong race from Lando and Danny. 

[MortenF1]

I’m not sure I can subscribe to the 3-stopper idea for Mercedes. It’s not what you want, to push all race in an unforgiving and nervous car.

[smr]

Read about Otmar's frustrations this morning. To be that angry really shows the low rake cars have been significantly impacted by the floor regs. 

 

I can't see Merc winning both championships this year.

[JimmyClark]

Vettel penalty is very harsh IMO, Mazepin was right in front of him when he spun.

Although I haven't seen the incident in detail, I presume it was similar to the Hamilton incident in Austria last year.

[Flamini]

Instead of making a fool of himself, Szafnauer should tell FIA and Liberty how his blatant copy of Mercedes harmed other teams in terms of points last year

[TheFish]

Otmar Szafnauer, from Aston Martin, is from side to side with the laptop in hand. He wants to find Liberty / FIA staff to show how low-rake cars (they and Mercedes) are suffering from the new aerodynamic https://twitter.com/...3501187074?s=21

What is he hoping to achieve here? They ain’t changing the rules back.

[TomNokoe]

Stewards reasoning re Seb is very flimsy https://twitter.com/...152231771320323

 

"While the argument that the driver was already inside the [mini] sector when it went double yellow evokes sympathy, the Stewards feel it is important to note that he was approaching an incident visible ahead of him."

[Whatisvalis]

Maybe Otmar is being pressured by Stroll - there's always more to this going on behind the scenes - anyway it's not worth discussing in any thread.

[SagemX]

What is he hoping to achieve here? They ain’t changing the rules back.

Exactly, the rules change has done what it was meant to do, make all the cars slower.

[FLB]

Is a one-stopper doable then, without a lenghty safety car?

If the F2 races are any indication, chances are high we'll have either a VSC or a SC at some point.

Edited by FLB, 28 March 2021 - 12:55.

[Jordan44]

3 penalty points for Seb as well apparently? That is an atrociously harsh decision and very dubious as well.

[Jellyfishcake]

Stewards reasoning re Seb is very flimsy https://twitter.com/...152231771320323

 

"While the argument that the driver was already inside the [mini] sector when it went double yellow evokes sympathy, the Stewards feel it is important to note that he was approaching an incident visible ahead of him."

 

Sometimes you've got to wonder what goes on inside the stewards brains

[Joefane]

Dunno where this question belongs but why are so many cars slower than they were in testing?

Like Russell is a second slower among other examples, Tsunoda would’ve been an easy second, very close to pole with his testing time, just seems odd or am I missing something.

[FLB]

Stewards reasoning re Seb is very flimsy https://twitter.com/...152231771320323

 

"While the argument that the driver was already inside the [mini] sector when it went double yellow evokes sympathy, the Stewards feel it is important to note that he was approaching an incident visible ahead of him."

(Gulp)

 

Emanuele Pirro is the driver steward...

[Dratini]

Read about Otmar's frustrations this morning. To be that angry really shows the low rake cars have been significantly impacted by the floor regs. 

 

I can't see Merc winning both championships this year.

Or maybe his anger/frustration is exacerbated by their Mercedes copy and his hope that it would be an absolute masterstroke, only for it to blow up in their face
 

[ARTGP]

Vettel penalty is very harsh IMO, Mazepin was right in front of him when he spun.

 

Good grief Vettel could not a drop of luck this weekend.  

[JimmyClark]

With that justification, it seems a really harsh penalty now. But, looking at F2, the stewards seem to be on something this weekend.

Edited by JimmyClark, 28 March 2021 - 12:57.

[ARTGP]

Or maybe his anger/frustration is exacerbated by their Mercedes copy and his hope that it would be an absolute masterstroke, only for it to blow up in their face
 

 

That's what I think it is more so. They rather cheekily climbed up the grid, and it has now backfired. He's pissed. They thought they were going to steal the "best of the rest" narrative with their newly renamed project. 

[1Devil1]

Exactly, the rules change has done what it was meant to do, make all the cars slower.

 

I read the argumentation is: it would have been impossible to change to high rake with the token system in place. You are screwed or you are not. Their decision in 2019 favoured them last year and is a disadvantage this year. But didn't Aston and Mercedes accept those rule changes last year? That would have been the time to complain not now.

Edited by 1Devil1, 28 March 2021 - 12:59.