2015 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

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SVT Cobra GT

SVT Cobra GT

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After the Chinese F1 outing last weekend where the Hamilton/Rosberg feud fired up again, we head to the middle east. Obviously the talking point in the paddock will be the Mercedes boys being at each others throats again but with a mix of Ferrari as they continue to be the best of the rest whilst looking like the biggest threat to Mercedes. Round 4 is going to throw up some more interesting things, ladies and gents, get comfortable for the 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain.jpg


Event date: 17-19 April 2015
Number of Laps: 57
Circuit Length: 5.412 km (3.363 mi)
Race Distance: 308.238 km (191.530 mi)
Lap Record: Michael Schumacher (2004) - 1:30.252


2014 Podium:
1st - Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
2nd - Nico Rosberg - Mercedes
3rd - Sergio Perez - Force India


Sky Sports Classic Races;
Tuesday = Abu Dhabi 2014
Wednesday = Germany 2011
Thursday = San Marino 1995
Friday = None
Saturday = None
Sunday = Bahrain 2015 & Belgium 1985 ​
 
Hoping for a half decent race like last year, but I really doubt it. More Mercedes dominance, yay...

Also, rooting for Verstappen after Shanghai. Or the Saubers.
 
ASSCVCCS
Hoping for a half decent race like last year, but I really doubt it.
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James Allen has an interesting piece on that - he reckons that because Ferrari are much closer to Mercedes this year, Mercedes don't have the luxury of experimenting with their strategies. They have to go down the conventional route.
 
Considering China was a Snoozefest, and I usually expect great things from China, and considering Bahrain is a pretty dull track, dullest in my opinion, I ain't expecting much. Maybe I'll pay attention to Verstappen a bit more, but I expect the typical results of the Mercedes Duo 1-2, Ferrari 3-4, Williams 5-6, and the more midfield teams fighting for position at least 30 seconds behind the Williams.
 
Kenocar
Considering China was a Snoozefest, and I usually expect great things from China, and considering Bahrain is a pretty dull track, dullest in my opinion, I ain't expecting much. Maybe I'll pay attention to Verstappen a bit more, but I expect the typical results of the Mercedes Duo 1-2, Ferrari 3-4, Williams 5-6, and the more midfield teams fighting for position at least 30 seconds behind the Williams.
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Nobody expected much last year either and the race turned out to be one of the best of the season.
 
Last year was a year of oddities, I was never expecting a Force India Podium or Marussia on points, or Mercedes being clear of the field by at least 50 seconds.


This year, the competition is significantly closer, but still has some catching up to do, and considering the Nico vs Lewis battle going on outside the track, I expect those two to battle it out, like last year, but considering Nico's current mentality, I won't be expecting what happened last year.

Let's just say, I expect things to get weird in Austria, that would be the time it takes for Honda to probably significantly improve their engine, Force India's B-spec car, and perhaps Manor?

Rumors and expectations aside, that Force India B-spec car that is targeted for Austria could possibly stir up the Midfielders, but as of now early in the season for Bahrain, I don't expect much, maybe just more shenanigans courtesy of Maldonado.
 
Well, there is a way to make an F1 race exciting... Safety Car :)

Make one car park in the middle of an unsafe area, then wait for a safety car, then excitement begins :lol:
 
Bernie now wants 1000bhp V8 engines...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118530

As much as I would love to see the return to V8 engines (mainly for the sound), I think this would cause more harm than good. First, millions of dollars in R&D to fine tune these V6s would have been wasted; constructers would have to completely re-design the cars to fit the V8 engine, along with altering some parts of their factories; some engine manufacturers like Honda might drop out because of the change and interested engine makers might change their minds; the fuel regulations would have to change to be able to have a tank large enough to support a 1000 bhp engine; finally all of the money might further put some teams in the hole.
 
V8s can still be 1000 bhp and fuel effecient enough to last in a race, Toyota's TS040 car is just that. Although to be fair it is larger, heavier, and can fit the hybrid system just fine.

But yeah, after all the money invested in the V6 engines, it sounds like suicide to go back to V8s.
 
I got all excited when Alonso topped the time sheets well into the ssesion... only to be brought back down to Earth when Verstappen lapped faster by .094 of a second a minute later... :lol:

28 minutes left in FP1.
 
Pezzarinho17
Jonathan Palmer blows the same Jolyon Palmer smoke it seems!
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You know they're father and son, right?

The cynic in me wonders if one of the objectives of the the failed Formula 2 experiment from a few years ago was to get Jolyon Palmer into the sport.
 
The Ferraris are losing a huge amount of time to Williams in those final 2 straights even though they are quicker everywhere else, losing about 4 tenths.
 
So that means they have to give media the exact same answers? Jolyon isn't the first driver with a racing father, but he lobbies harder it seems for his sons career (from my own opinion anyway) than the rest.

It wouldn't be the first time a racing series / team has been resurrected for one particular drivers plight.
 
Can anyone post a link of a onboard video where Alonso slid the car in turn 10 in the next lap of his fastest lap.
 
FP2 Results

Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m 34.647s - 31
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m 34.762s 0.115s 33
3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m 35.174s 0.527s 30
4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m 35.277s 0.630s 26
5 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 1m 35.280s 0.633s 36
6 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m 35.449s 0.802s 27
7 Pastor Maldonado Lotus/Mercedes 1m 35.474s 0.827s 34
8 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari 1m 35.793s 1.146s 27
9 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull/Renault 1m 35.883s 1.236s 23
10 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m 35.884s 1.237s 35
11 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m 36.148s 1.501s 34
12 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda 1m 36.191s 1.544s 22
13 Romain Grosjean Lotus/Mercedes 1m 36.334s 1.687s 31
14 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso/Renault 1m 36.471s 1.824s 32
15 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes 1m 36.805s 2.158s 30
16 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso/Renault 1m 36.917s 2.270s 26
17 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m 37.062s 2.415s 33
18 Will Stevens Marussia/Ferrari 1m 39.131s 4.484s 21
19 Jenson Button McLaren/Honda 1m 39.209s 4.562s 15
20 Roberto Merhi Marussia/Ferrari 1m 40.592s 5.945s 26
 
This was one of if not the Best track for Mercedes last year, will be interesting to see if they have been caught up here.

It must be said though we are lucky that the Tyres are not Bridgestones like the pre Pirelli era. As Mercedes speed basically limited by their Tyre wear if they where able to go max attack I don't think any other team other then ferrari would be likely to stay on the lead lap.
 
It will be interesting to see who gets through to Q3 with all the cars (except Manor) below Williams being coverd by only a few tenths after FP3!:sly:

Lotus, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Force India and McLaren so close! :lol:
 
05XR8
Man, I'm fading in and out with the Pit Lane live stuff..
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I can't hear the TV. I need to have it down low. :lol:

I'm loving Sky's coverage. Especially Pit Lane Live and Paddock Live. It gives a different perspective on F1 being able to access those areas through your TV screen.
 

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