Bahrain GP 2012 on-track action thread
 

I thought it was only right to have a thread dedicated to the on-track events rather than the politics and wider situation in Bahrain.

FP1 ended with Hamilton's McLaren fastest and looking competitive ahead of Vettel, while di Resta's P3 looked awesome but was set on softer tyres as they clearly had already decided to skip FP2. The Mercedes cars once again look promising and will obviously be looking to build on their China result.

Free practice one times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m33.572 11
2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m33.877s + 0.305 21
3. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m34.150s + 0.578 26
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m34.249s + 0.677 23
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m34.277s + 0.705 14
6. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m34.344s + 0.772 26
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m34.483s + 0.911 17
8. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m34.552s + 0.980 22
9. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m34.609s + 1.037 17
10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m34.847s + 1.275 2011. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m35.024s + 1.452 22
12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m35.268s + 1.696 24
13. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m35.436s + 1.864 21
14. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m35.497s + 1.925 24
15. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m35.719s + 2.147 19
16. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m35.929s + 2.357 24
17. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m36.195s + 2.623 20
18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m36.330s + 2.758 11
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m36.484s + 2.912 18
20. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m36.591s + 3.019 20
21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m37.467s + 3.895 17
22. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m38.006s + 4.434 18
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m38.877s + 5.305 19
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m39.996s + 6.424 23

FP2 is underway with Vettel currently fastest and once again the Mercs looking strong - and Force India electing not to run at all.

I'm not sure what point Force India are trying to prove in FP2
but ultimately it only compromises their own team and drivers
In a sport used to overreactions, Force India's FP2 actions are lame and rather sad

What's sad is that members of their staff nearly got firebombed during the week where safety was supposed to be guaranteed. If they feel that their own safety will be jeopardised based on historical precedent (autosport is reporting that friday is a time of particular unrest during these protests), I have no idea why you are objecting to their decision.

Sky's Ted Kravitz has been talking to rival engineers who don't think it'll harm their chances too much. We'll see come qualifying, I guess.

Meanwhile Rosberg's gone quickest. Now normally that means nothing as Mercedes usually do set good practice times then fade away over the weekend, but after China who knows?

PS I'd never lecture anybody on how or where to post, but can we make an effort to keep the political talk to the other thread please? http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Haven't seen FP2 yet but Button looked pretty good in FP1. He's going to be one to watch I think.

(ps, agree with Daves view. Lets talk F1)

Finally time to talk F1 http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif So far it seems that McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing are quite evenly matched. Maybe the race will be very interesting. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Mercedes still looking strong. Second win for Nico?

FP2 times:

Code: Force India did not participate.

I have to say it is really difficult to predict F1 right now with competition being so close and so dependant on conditions. In China's cold conditions Mercedes' tyres appeared to be working fine, while Sauber didn't manage to heat them up properly. Now in hot Bahrain it may well be the other way around. Only McLaren seems to be the most consistent car, which can get a podium in all circumstances.

I say Rosberg and Hamilton are favourites for pole position, but I'm not convinced, how will Mercedes perform in the race. There is still a point to prove in different climate now.

I still like to think Sauber is a team to watch, climate should suit them too. I think hot conditions should suit Red Bull as well, who also seems quite gentle on tyres and in colder conditions (in which the opening races were held) struggled to make the tyres perform.

Also only 2 points between Hamilton and Button - let's see, who leaves the flyaway season as the championship leader. Or are we going to have a shock alternative leader?http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

4-stopper on Sunday it is.

Soft tyres look utter junk, lucky to reach double figures on Sunday. What on earth were Pirelli thinking or is it not the same compound that was branded as Mediums last year?

looks like Red bull is trying to copy the Mercedes Rear defuser to front spoiler thing according to what i saw this morning

Maybe the time has come for a Red Bull victory. Button is concerned about their pace and Nico admitted that Merc will have problems with tyres.

Hmm, it could indeed be RBR's best chance for a race win this season. Incredible to think that we have already had 3 different teams winning a race and none of them is RBR!

In any case, there seem to be at least 5 teams, whose podium place wouldn't be a surprise (McLaren, RBR, Mercedes, Sauber, Lotus). Williams and Ferrari aren't far behind either. It is so tight that even barely with a bad strategy a podium contender can end up down in 10th. Gonna be fascinating.http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Wedge and Jens both bring up excellent points. Just a thought, the teams that start on primes may cause the field to bunch up. I don't see the options lasting long enough to get sufficient separation after early pit stops from those on primes, unless someone decides to do a fastest lap on primes in Q3. The penalty may well be less the later you use the options as track position will dictate easier pit strategy decisions and a little less tire wear on low fuel. Of course after pitting they should be able to pass the teams that start on primes as they will be degraded. Then again the fastest car that manages its tires well should still win, although it may have an affect down the finishing order. I don’t know if it will really be a factor. Any thoughts?

The primes are the mediums and options are the softs Dr.Giacomo
________

I'd say that starting in a top 4 position is very important at Bahrain...usually
but with this year's tire issues, who knows http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/ermm.gif

As I see it, those who choose to use softs in Q3 will be going for one run only, as the drop off seems particularly severe
the better option is to qualy on the primes if you are RBR and Mclaren and focus on consistent laps
but on the softs if you are Sauber, lotus and Mercedes and want a top 3 position.
Mercedes might lock out the front row again, but think the rbr's have made an improvent

My Qualy prediction

1. Rosberg - option
2. MSC - option
3. Hamilton - prime
4. Vettel - prime
5. kimi - option
6. Button - prime
7. Webber -prime
8. Grosjean - option
9. Kobayashi - option
10. Maldonado -option

Good post Jens.

Lewis's change in strategy seems to be paying dividends so far but I have this gut feeling that Jensons ability to look after his tyres (when he can get them working :/) is going to swing it in his direction over the course of the season. If tyre sympathy is ever a deciding factor between the two of them at the end of a season.. its going to be this one.

That's an interesting list! So you really think that many will run primes in Q3, and you suggest there is some merit to my opinion? I think your list contains the right players, depending on if you have nailed the tire choice, it might be quite be quite different. I do think McLaren will split their strategy with Button using options.
I also think Alonso will bump Maldonado.
You know, another miracle http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/smokin.gif http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


Spelling

Editing the previous did nothing for my dyslexia. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gif

It looks like a lot of sand blowing on the track!

By the wind of change? http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif