[Ilaubuas]

I agree its unusual - based on what we know - but that's what I heard. Red Bull have admitted they are too hard on their tyres on a long run so would have to quali on the harder compounds if they want a longer stint.

As for Jenson, perhaps its the skinny fronts that require a different style that has his legendary tyre preservation skills in a mess at the moment.

Where did you hear it? Not questioning your veracity at all Sonic, just interested to know the source.

[riverakathy]

The reports are misleading - a driver and a team that had the best car in 2009 and with the RB6 an evolution do not suddenly have such problems. Especially Jenson. In all the formulas he has raced, car conservation has been a hallmark.

In addition there has been no such reporting from the Autosport journalists and if it was the case, it would have been known about by now.

On Twitter during testing, the Mclaren team were extremely happy with the way the car was with new tyres and Jenson discovered that the car was even more sensitive than the Brawn in slow corners which is Jenson's known strength and another commonality with Alain Prost.

A naturally smooth driver with understeer as his comfort zone does not make sense to be hard on tyres. It is oversteer drivers that overheat tyree and grain them preventing the proper chemical reaction from occurring.

Until such time as there are actual struggles by Mclaren or Red Bull - the two most innovative cars this year and the two teams most likely to head the grand prix at Sakhir, I will dismiss such stories as naysaying by interested parties.

The reports come from Bridgestone (about Jenson) and Red Bull themsleves and were reported in Autosport yesterday. Of course, this could all be related to running in near freezing tempretures and the tyres will act very differently in the desert heat.

Oh and the Red Bull has always been hard on its tyres, it cost Webber the win in Hungry last year because the tyres just wouldnt hold up as well as the McLarens.

[riverakathy]

Cant say I like the new section to Sakhir, it removes one of the few fast corner sections of the track.

[Mymnnarry]

The reports are misleading - a driver and a team that had the best car in 2009 and with the RB6 an evolution do not suddenly have such problems. Especially Jenson. In all the formulas he has raced, car conservation has been a hallmark.

In addition there has been no such reporting from the Autosport journalists and if it was the case, it would have been known about by now.

On Twitter during testing, the Mclaren team were extremely happy with the way the car was with new tyres and Jenson discovered that the car was even more sensitive than the Brawn in slow corners which is Jenson's known strength and another commonality with Alain Prost.

A naturally smooth driver with understeer as his comfort zone does not make sense to be hard on tyres. It is oversteer drivers that overheat tyree and grain them preventing the proper chemical reaction from occurring.

Until such time as there are actual struggles by Mclaren or Red Bull - the two most innovative cars this year and the two teams most likely to head the grand prix at Sakhir, I will dismiss such stories as naysaying by interested parties.

Gods, that was a long post to basically say "I don't believe it"

Anyway, he's the quotes;

It (the Red Bulls) suffered high tyre degradation.
"we are working on the tyre situation..." Mark Webber.
"The key thing is to understand the tyre" Horner. And for Jenson;

According to Bridgestone....

super-smooth world champion Jenson Button is working his tyres to hard, while aggressive Lewis Hamilton has it under control From the horses mouth as it were St.D.

[Kubasarika]

I have watched F1 since 1991 and I can't remember a season opener where I had so little idea of the order. Its great.

I can't wait.
Only 5 days, 8 hours and 20 minutes until we get our first idea.

I am so excited I can't keep still.

[N9u9ie4p]

There is a big difference between working the tyres too hard as a driver and the tyre reacting in specific conditions.

In addition any comment from Autosport where Jenson is concerned and Hamilton has to be suspect. Autosport are, and when that big fat toad was F1 Racing's editor was also one of Hamilton's apologists.

It reminds me of the days of Nigel Mansell when Autosport and others accused him of pretending to limp to the podium after a race for "effect".

[southernplayer99]

There is a big difference between working the tyres too hard as a driver and the tyre reacting in specific conditions.

So it's the tyres fault and not Button for he can do no wrong, is that what you are saying?

[teentodiefows]

I have watched F1 since 1991 and I can't remember a season opener where I had so little idea of the order. Its great.

I can't wait.
Only 5 days, 8 hours and 20 minutes until we get our first idea.

I am so excited I can't keep still.

your not the only one This is the most open WDC Ive have ever seen since since ive started watching in 93.....Also im going to the Oz GP so my excitment levels are sky high There is somthing ive never experinced ever im my F1 life, and thats starting to toy with the idea that Mark is in it up to his eyeballs in this championship. Cautiously Optamistic would sum how I feel.

[N9u9ie4p]

trying to predict who will win the Bahrain Grand Prix at the moment is impossible, or at least for me it is. but this aint such a bad thing!

Schumacher won the first grand prix and the Alonso won it twice and Massa twice as well. Jenson won it last year and of course I am hoping for another consecutive winner.

The pole position winner has only won it three out of six and the lowest grid position [twice] to win was fourth - Alonso and Button.

So - the winner is likely to be from the first four on the grid and one in two from pole?

BUT - this year the driver counts more because there is no refuelling and so we could have situation that the driver best able to conserve tyres and depending on fuel consumption could really make up positions in the last twenty laps or so.

Question is whether the Ferrari is still as thirsty as last year and does the Renault have the best fuel consumption. If Viry-Chatillon has increased the power then maybe, Red Bull will be favorites with Kubica as the wild card?

This type of racing favors Schumi compared to previously and he is until proven otherwise the best at managing and altering his car and driving.

I would love to see compulsory pit stops completely abandoned because then it totally up to the driver to manage the car well.

Will the cars that are perhaps less than a second and mid-grid go for a quick pit stop after one lap and then drive conservatively the rest of the way making up time as the others at the front push each other, wear the tyres, especially those who are oversteer drivers and stop later.

The mid-grid doing well as a result. Robert Kubica for a surprise podium? He does go well at the track and won pole position in 2008.

Mercedes have good power and Jenson has always driven a car smoothly, never punishing it, he won the race last year and his best qualification was third in the Honda in 2006. Hamilton has never won at Sakhir but he qualifies well and has finished second.

A Mclaren one-two?

The winner is likely to come from FIVE drivers: Button, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso or Massa. That is my prediction. Not specific but narriwed!

[legal-advicer]

Historically Ferrari are very strong at Sakhir and it should be a track in which their drivers will excel. But I hope that Michael will stun all of them with a victory!

[Mymnnarry]

There is a big difference between working the tyres too hard as a driver and the tyre reacting in specific conditions.

so now you know more than Bridgestone? I can't help but notice you used Bridgestone as a reference on a previous page when they were praising Jensons style, but now they are stating a fact - you don't accept it? Rose tinted glasses!

In addition any comment from Autosport where Jenson is concerned and Hamilton has to be suspect. Autosport are, and when that big fat toad was F1 Racing's editor was also one of Hamilton's apologists. You initially rejected my informationed based on the fact that "autosport had not reported it" now that you've been proven wrong on that you accuse them of bias? Perhaps you'd prefer them to put a positive spin on Jensons troubles - for example, no more tyre heating problems!

[N9u9ie4p]

so now you know more than Bridgestone? I can't help but notice you used Bridgestone as a reference on a previous page when they were praising Jensons style, but now they are stating a fact - you don't accept it? Rose tinted glasses!

There is a difference between what happens at an event - a test - and the comments in 2009 that the CEO of Bridgestone saying that through the ENTIRE SEASON Button has been incredibly easy on his tyres.

Secondly, I have no idea of the context that Bridgestone spoke or what Mclaren were testing. I can assure you that nobody at Mclaren and definitely not Jenson through his web site are worried about soething that would be a first.

Until Sakhir is past, I will continue to doubt that an unusual tyre wear is a trend.

You initially rejected my informationed based on the fact that "autosport had not reported it" now that you've been proven wrong on that you accuse them of bias? Perhaps you'd prefer them to put a positive spin on Jensons troubles - for example, no more tyre heating problems!

A positive spin? I have been a supporter of Jenson through the Williams, the dratted Flavio period and the hated Honda era until Brawn.

I think I do understand Jenson's style of driving better than Bridgestone, Yes, and I refer you to my comment above.

And Autosport IS biased along with many others against Jenson. Just look back at the comments after Jenson won his World title.

The ONLY person to defend him was Kimi. And the reason given by Brundle that Raikkonen is out of F1 and agreed with by the former F1 driver is a pretty poor reflection on what has happened in F1.

[gortusbig]

I think I do understand Jenson's style of driving better than Bridgestone, Yes, and I refer you to my comment above.

Seriously?

Seriously?

Wow.

[Mymnnarry]

Seriously?

Seriously?

Wow.

Ditto!

ROFLMAO!

[arindiruppya]

I think I do understand Jenson's style of driving better than Bridgestone, Yes, and I refer you to my comment above.

I don't quite know whether to laugh, or have a sympathetic reaction to the fact that you seem to believe that statement..

[N9u9ie4p]

Well I don't care what anyone believes or thinks. Nobody believed that Jenson COULD win the world title and when he did the campaign to undermine his achievement merely illustrated the cognitive dissonance of the perpetrators.

So why exactly ought I to accept that suddenly his known ability where tyres is concerned, confirmed by Ross Brawn in interviews after the championship win, has not changed, but SHIFTED?

And how convenient - the sudden shift has occurred at exactly the same time that not just anyone, but HAMILTON is suddenly so smooth and easy on HIS tyres. What an amazing coinicidence!!!!

So until we see the results at Sakhir and maybe until after Shanghai where a trend of the new season will become apparent, I reserve my judgement and continue to have confidence in what is historically known.

[Mymnnarry]

Ahhh back to the same old rhetoric. We are not talking about his historical smoothness, or even what he may/will adapt to this season and recover some/all of his tyre management skills. I doubt any of us believe Jenson can learn to master the new tyres, what we doubt is that you, a fan (an enthusiastic one to be sure, but still a fan) know more about the style of a GP driver than tyre technicians and engineers that work with him every day.

Can you prove your claim? Can you provide simple information regarding Jenson at say turn one, Barcelona? Say turn in speed, apex speed? Or more detailed? Perhaps steering angle, throttle application, slip angle?

No? Then you can't lay claim to knowing more than the pro's!

[Mymnnarry]

Ooops. Demo edit failed so the middle line should have read; "I doubt any of us believe that jenson can't learn to to master the new tyres"

[N9u9ie4p]

Ahhh back to the same old rhetoric. We are not talking about his historical smoothness, or even what he may/will adapt to this season and recover some/all of his tyre management skills. I doubt any of us believe Jenson can learn to master the new tyres, what we doubt is that you, a fan (an enthusiastic one to be sure, but still a fan) know more about the style of a GP driver than tyre technicians and engineers that work with him every day.

Can you prove your claim? Can you provide simple information regarding Jenson at say turn one, Barcelona? Say turn in speed, apex speed? Or more detailed? Perhaps steering angle, throttle application, slip angle?

No? Then you can't lay claim to knowing more than the pro's!

I dont have to provide boring technical detail and I cant.

But what I can do is refer you to MY long time support of Jenson - you tend to get to know a driver's ability - and the comments on Jenson of Anthony Davidson, Paul Lemmens, Jim Warren, Serge Saulnier, Marcus Pye, Jackie Eeckelaert, Andy Shovelin, Frank Williams, Alain Prost and so on.

[fiettariaps]

So it's the tyres fault and not Button for he can do no wrong, is that what you are saying?

basically