1292 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

Can anyone stop Red Bull in the heat of Bahrain?

 

Can Leclerc, with his brand new set of shiny soft tyres? Alonso, with encouraging long-run pace from testing and practice? The evenly-matched Mercedes pair, carrying on their trend from 2022 of being strong on Sunday? Or will this group be battling only for the final step on the podium?

 

Outside of the top 8, there are only two points-paying positions up for grabs, with a hectic midfield, it's anyone's guess.

 

It's time for the 2023 season to begin - the race starts in 2 hours from this post (1500 GMT / 1600 CET).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by TomNokoe, 05 March 2023 - 13:08.

[MensRea]

RB seem on another planet .
Red cars ...a bit of a question mark over reliability and some sort of perceived fragility.
Space for Alonso to get a podium .
Let's see what Merc have , curious after yesterday's comments by TW.

Happy season everyone.

[FLB]

Ahhhh... 

 

 

This thing called F1 has been a drug for me for 45 years now. Today, I'm getting my fix.

[Beamer]

RB seem on another planet .
Red cars ...a bit of a question mark over reliability and some sort of perceived fragility.
Space for Alonso to get a podium .
Let's see what Merc have , curious after yesterday's comments by TW.

Happy season everyone.

Getting old! 😄 first thought in my head after reading TW? "What the =£#^ does Tom Walkinshaw have to say about that... " followed by " but he's dead right... ahh.." 🥺

[Burtros]

Opening poll is little defeatist!

There always hope until we see RB race pace!

Edited by Burtros, 05 March 2023 - 13:19.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Interesting that Pirelli say a two stop with two stints on the softs is fastest. I wonder how many have that in their plan?

[Risil]

Alonso! Alonso! Alonso! (Repeat as appropriate)

[GentlemanDriver091]

Interesting that Pirelli say a two stop with two stints on the softs is fastest. I wonder how many have that in their plan?

Ferrari kept a set of fresh softs for the race for Leclerc, both Red Bulls have a set of softs with only one quick sector on them.

I don’t know about the other teams.

[sportyskells]

Also do not forget the risk of the safety car

[Muppetmad]

There's something intensely satisfying about Leclerc's 1:30.000 lap time.

[Heyli]

Interesting that Pirelli say a two stop with two stints on the softs is fastest. I wonder how many have that in their plan?

Seems all teams have at least 3 sets of soft available, so I assume all of them has that as a possible plan.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Ferrari kept a set of fresh softs for the race for Leclerc, both Red Bulls have a set of softs with only one quick sector on them.

I don’t know about the other teams.

Yes, to start the race, surely? Than 2 stints on the hards.

[TomNokoe]

Ferrari kept a set of fresh softs for the race for Leclerc, both Red Bulls have a set of softs with only one quick sector on them.

I don’t know about the other teams.

Everyone outside the top 10 has a new set of Softs because they didn't make Q3.

 

Leclerc has a brand new set of Softs.

 

Verstappen has a lightly used set with two laps use, an outlap and in lap.

 

Perez also has a lightly used set with two laps use, an outlap and in lap including pushing S1.

 

Yes, to start the race, surely? Than 2 stints on the hards.

The new C1 (Hard) looks to be a very strong race tyre. I am surprised Red Bull only have one set. This might be a small weakness.

Edited by TomNokoe, 05 March 2023 - 13:40.

[Risil]

Lando Norris carrying the McLaren again I see.

 

What happened to Gasly in qualifying? He's starting in a different postcode to his teammate.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Hard to look beyond Max for the race win, I just hope that he doesn't drive into the distance in the process.

 

It'll be nice if Perez gets the jump on him at the start.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I'm going for a VER PER LEC podium. Really hope Alonso can make it though. 

[FLB]

 

What happened to Gasly in qualifying? He's starting in a different postcode to his teammate.

 

Pushed his engineer in the wrong direction, trying to fix an understeer issue. Then, lost a lap for track limits.

[Risil]

Pushed his engineer in the wrong direction, trying to fix an understeer issue. Then, lost a lap for track limits.

Oh dear. Damage limitation Sunday coming up.

[w1Y]

I think we have to start ignoring the red bull cars and look for the race for the third podium spot

[Garagista]

One interesting point for This season is that the fight for points will uber interesting, having in mind that 8 places will be regularly occupied by 4 top teams.

Not looking good for the rest of the teams :s

[IrvTheSwerve]

Enjoyed that lie detector with Lewis feature on Sky.  Should have asked more probing questions haha.

[aray]

Not sure of AM's tyre management any better than Ferrari. Alonso has tough job ahead.

[MortenF1]

I’m guessing Mercedes, at least one of them, will start on mediums. Wouldn’t surprise me if Hamilton did.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Merc going to ditch the zero sidepod concept?

[Risil]

Merc going to ditch the zero sidepod concept?

Zero Sidepod Deathwatch is going to become a meme, I think. It's amusing because 99.5% of us really have no idea what effect the sidepod context has on the car's overall competitive, and we certainly couldn't convince Mercedes' technical director that we're right and their aerodynamicists are wrong. And yet!

[as65p]

Zero Sidepod Deathwatch is going to become a meme, I think. It's amusing because 99.5% of us really have no idea what effect the sidepod context has on the car's overall competitive, and we certainly couldn't convince Mercedes' technical director that we're right and their aerodynamicists are wrong. And yet!

I think it's more about the riddle of 9 other design teams not being able to convince them.

[InSearchOfThe]

I took Perez for the win at +800.
I think Max will have some issues. Probably just wishful thinking, but one can only hope, right?

[Bleu]

Mario Isola thinks teams might try to avoid medium.

[w1Y]

Just gonna say. Well done to sky for finally getting us driver onboards etc. Sha.e that the app is a little delayed but massive step in the right direction

[Massa]

Since 2017, the one winning the first race of the season finish 2nd in the championship.

2017 and 2018 Vettel
2019 and 2020 Bottas
2021 Hamilton
2022 Leclerc

[MortenF1]

Maybe I misunderstood him, but Vasseur said they are not looking over their shoulders for Alonso.

[engineblock1]

Helmut Marko on Servus TV was saying that they expect to be chased by Alonso as he thinks AM long run pace is better than Ferrari and Merc.

[pRy]

Stroll Snr says the simulator is the same loads as an actual race? That can't be right?

[jonpollak]

Alonso! Alonso! Alonso! (Repeat as appropriate)

If ever there was a time….

It’s NAO.
Jp

[pRy]

Newey stood studying the Mercedes. Never complacent.

[Dutchrudder]

Oh wow the teams not allowed to block the cameras anymore!? Martins gridwalk giving amazing access to look in the Ferrari cockpit, thought Martin was going to touch the car at one point!

[Ferrim]

There's something intensely satisfying about Leclerc's 1:30.000 lap time.

No one seems to have noticed that's the real reason he didn't do a second run...

[FLB]

Clarkson!

[jcbc3]

Stroll Snr says the simulator is the same loads as an actual race? That can't be right?

 

I wouldn't expect anything else. Otherwise it's a crap race simulation.

[Disgrace]

Clarkson!

 

Looks terrible...

[pRy]

I wouldn't expect anything else. Otherwise it's a crap race simulation.

 
How do they simulate the G-Forces?

[STRFerrari4Ever]

One of the best grid walks in a long time, everyone was pleasant and genuine during their interviews with Martin, nice touch that.

[Dan333SP]

I LOL'd at JYS saying "You know, I raced with a broken wrist too, but I won at the Nurburgring by 4 minutes, let's see what he can do" 

[jonpollak]

How do they simulate the G-Forces?

He pushes while she pulls.
Jp

[Fastcake]

Here’s to a fun race!

[Primo]

Stroll Snr says the simulator is the same loads as an actual race? That can't be right?

No. You can simulate the pedal pressure and power steering, but there are a lot of complex forces that are added in the real car that makes the static numbers quite irrelevant.

[jcbc3]

 
How do they simulate the G-Forces?

 

I thought we were talking of steering weight. That's managed hydraulically.

[Garagista]

I LOL'd at JYS saying "You know, I raced with a broken wrist too, but I won at the Nurburgring by 4 minutes, let's see what he can do"

When you are one of the possible Goats things are different than with the commons

[Dan333SP]

Stroll Snr says the simulator is the same loads as an actual race? That can't be right?

 

Same steering loads, of course they can't get the same g-loads which will also have an impact on his wrist, but the simulator wouldn't be much use if the level of feedback through the wheel was different than what they experience on track. 

[JeePee]

Carbon neutral in 2030, but lets have a jumbo jet fly over the track first.