Grand Prix of Bahrain

  • Thread starter Blake
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Blake

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haswell00
Well this will be only the 3rd time that an Arab country has held a Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 2nd time that an F1 Grand Prix has been hosted at Bahrain.

Last year we were shown some fairly interesting action, except where it really counts - the front. Ferrari completely dominated the event.

This year we have been blessed with a different situation Ferrari have been anywhere but the front, but this is the race where we will see if Ferrari's new car has got what it takes to win.

Toyota have been showing rapid improvement and look in line for another podium and another lage points haul.

Red Bull have been the suprise of the season, and with their result in Malaysia they proved many people wrong (including me) by showing their Australian result was not a fluke.

Renault have been amazing, winning the first two races of the season from Pole and now have an impressive 26 points in the bag. Can they keep up their good form or will the rest of the field show some competition and stop the Renault winning streak?

Williams are showing some impressive pace, and as long as the drivers stop crashing into thing I think we can expect some reasonably solid results, and I'm certainly not ruling out another podium for the Grove based team.

McLaren have showed some huge promise during the off season and in Practice, but nothing great has come from it, are the cars just good for a fast lap or have they just not been given the chance to show their true form. This race also sees Pedro de la Rossa getting a race seat as Columbian JPM has injured his shoulder. Will he be able to change McLarens fortune?

Sauber have been pretty dissapointing, especially Villenueve, unless he gets a real result this weekend I don't expect his career to last much longer.

BAR are laughable, I am really hoping to see those engines blow up again so I can laugh in their faces, they say they have got the problem resolved but we will soon see I guess.

Jordan and Minardi, meh, expect the Jordans to finish, I'm not sure whether Minardi will be able to keep both their cars running for the entire race.

The Bahrain GP, discuss.

Blake
 
Even though i admit i'm a little bit of a ferrari fanboy i don't think there new car will match what the renaults are doing up front, i expect to see both the renaults on the podium. Bridgestone have taken responsability for ferrari's poor form and i don't think that bridgestone will have made significant improvemants in time for this GP, the same goes to BAR, with the heat of the desert i think both of those engines will be toast before half way. Mclaren don't really seem to be much of a challenge but maybe if kimi hadn't had a blowout in sepang we might have seen him on the podium. I personally think it will be a renault - williams podium.
 
It's not the heat that will kill the engine in Bahrain, it's the sand. They've had to make finer mesh for air filters and stuff to keep the sand out of the engines, because if any fine particles get in I don't see the engine lasting too long.

Blake
 
concerning Williams- you mean if the drivers stop being crashed into by OTHER things ;) (excuse my bad use of english) (read OTHER things->drivers outbraking themselves at the wrong moment)
 
Of course, I don't blame the Williams drivers for either of those two incidents, just bad wording on my case I guess, but you're absolutely right, if other people would stop running into Williams cars. ;)

Blake
 
I believe Williams is the only team with significant upgrades for this weekend. While the other teams bringing out theirs in Imola. It's gonna be interesting how they'd do against the other front runners.
 
I'm pulling for some more Williams success. I can definitely see them making podium, but Renault is going to be tough to beat, as expected.

I'm most interested in seeing if RBR can keep it up, and of course the new Ferrari car.
 
I read that Red Bull are worried about this weekend as they basically haven't touched the car since Malaysia, they think they'll be swamped by teams that have put some work into changing the car for Bahrain.

I'm actually quite scared about Ferrari, I think their new car has alot of promise and from what I've read Bridgestone has made some significant improvements over the last week or so ... I wonder if it will be enough. :scared:

Michael doesn't seem over confident but he says that the new car is a significant improvement, so I guess we'll see...

Blake
 
The thing with the F2005 is reliability. Although ferrari are absouletly bulletbroof in terms of reliability a new car with less km's on it will always be a bit of a ??? especially since they have never raced it yet.
I think (and hope) that it will be an interesting race again as in Malaysia, shame about montoya being out of it but I think Mclaren should do well as long as it doesn't rain (in the desert? as if :)) or they don't have a tyre blowout they will be very competitive and as for williams? Good on ya webber for racing two races with a broken rib!
 
The thing with the F2005 is reliability. Although ferrari are absouletly bulletbroof in terms of reliability a new car with less km's on it will always be a bit of a ??? especially since they have never raced it yet.
Ferrari don't have reliability issues with this car, the first time they turned it on it did over 300 km's before anything gave up, I can't remember what the latest figured are but I know they've done a couple of thousand km's without anything going wrong.
I think Mclaren should do well as long as it doesn't rain (in the desert? as if :))
Actually it rained on the Sunday of the race last year, took track temperatures down a fair bit for the start of the race, so you can never be certain about anything there :lol:

Blake
 
I don't know about you guys but even though i am no fan of Ferrari nor Renault i really doubt that Renault out of the blue can build a better car than Ferrari.They just can't.The only thing that's holding Ferrari back are the Bridgestone tires wich are not on par with the Michelins.And i'm affraid that Ferrari's new car won't be able to show it's full potential because of that.If by some miracle Bridgestone pull it off and bring a good tire to Bahrain than i think Ferrari will be up there.I'm not sure if they will win but i atleast expect to see them on the podium.
 
Blake
Friday practice 1



Blake

I know that practice isn't a good way of comparing speeds, but it is looking good for ferrari, maybe bridgestone have improved over the last two weeks 👍 I hope its a good close race, and i now hope a ferrari will be on the podium :)
 
Go Go Go Trulli!!!!

Is it just me or does Kimi look ragged this season thus far. His driving looks sloppy and he has alot of little moments on the track. Not the smooth, cool and collected driving we have been seeing in years past. I though he might calm down this weekend since JPM isn't on track but if anything he looks more ragged. It isn't even about pushing...he just looks sloppy. Sadly.
 
Pink_the_Floyd
Hope Toyota will do as fine as two weeks ago. 👍

Common Trulli 👍 ....And Ralf :dopey:

Cheers,

Looking at Trulli's 10 lap stint in FP2, Toyota looks strong again this weekend. Too bad Zonta's gearbox problems hampered him from doing light fuel runs in FP2 to compare their pace vs McLaren.
 
Renault still looks strong , in my opinion they'll have at least one car on the podium.
For the other steps , I think about Ferrari and McLaren

The F2005 seems fast but the car is running sooner than it was planned , the reliability of the car is certainly excellent , a question mark is on the tyres manadgement and on the tyre itself.

If Ferrari has a weakness Toyota could be on the podium.

The next sessions 'll tell us more about it.
 
yipeeka
If Ferrari has a weakness Toyota could be on the podium.

I agree. The three strongest looking teams today, were Renault, McLaren and Toyota in that order...then again Friday practice really doesn't tell much of how it really is.

Ferrari does have a weakness(s)...a rushed car and bridgestone tires. Like I always say never count them out but don't expect miracles with the new car this soon. I fully expect Ferrari to be back in full form by mid season though....
 
I don't think the F2005 is a great improvement for Ferrari....I dunno.But what I dO know is that Toyota will do fine.I can sense it, I've got a very special bond when it comes to me and Toyota :lol: :odd: :dopey: 👍



Cheers,
 
Pink_the_Floyd
I don't think the F2005 is a great improvement for Ferrari....I dunno.But what I dO know is that Toyota will do fine.I can sense it, I've got a very special bond when it comes to me and Toyota :lol: :odd: :dopey: 👍



Cheers,

The f2005's development was pushed forward at least 5 weeks, so don't judge them right now...

I hope your "sense" is right. I want to see Trulli do well. Another podium would rule for him.
 
Trulli on the podium would be excellent! :dopey:

I don't really care about Ralf but if he gets some points for Toyota I'll be happy.

The Ferrari showed sime signs of competetiveness in Practice, but they've been doing that all year, just nothing much comes together in Qualifying or the Race, so I think we'll just have to wait and see :scared:

Blake]
 
Alonso has been the fastest racer, followed by De la Rosa. Tho spaniards in the firsts positions of Friday practice. Cool :) That never happened before. Also, Alonso has been the first spanish to be first in the championship 👍
 
I have been waiting for this race since the finish of the last. I don't really know what to expect in this weekend's race. Just hoping for a great race!
 
Yeah, this is one of my favourite tracks this season so I'm looking forward to it 👍 ...

Predictions people?

Blake
 
Blake
Yeah, this is one of my favourite tracks this season so I'm looking forward to it 👍 ...

Predictions people?

Blake

Alonso
Kimi
Trulli

Fisi, MS or Rubens (if the F2005's tires last) and maybe Ralphie will be up there too.

I'd like to see DC and Webber involved too.

Ask me again after first qualifying....
 
  1. Alonso
  2. Trulli
  3. Webber

At least one Ferrari in the top 6, a BAR for 78th or 8th, the other to retire, McLaren 4-6....

We'll see a more accurate picture after qualifying though ;)

Saturday practice one starts in just over an hour and a half :D

Blake
 
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