The Official 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**
Discussion
Date(s): Friday 06 April - Sunday 08 April 2018
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4.
*On the More4 channel rather than the usual C4. (H/t cuprabob)
Bahrain International Circuit
Live timing for all sessions available here:
http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...
Another way to follow the race is via Merc’s Pure Pit Wall
https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/p...
Info such as lap times, PU use, technical reports, stewards decisions etc for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...
Weather forecast:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Bahrain/Sak...
The tyre choices:
2017 Qualifying
2017 Race
Fastest Race Lap: 1:32.798 (L46, L. Hamilton; Mercedes)
Has Sebastian cashed out all his luck in the 1st race of the season?
Will Merc pretend to blow away the competition again? C’mon Merc show us what you’ve got!
And will Bottas make amends for the first race and grab pole this time?
Will RBR be able to use their great race pace to spoil the silver and red party?
How many DRS zones will Charlie be able to squeeze in to this track?
What will it take for Kimi to win a race?
Will McLaren be the 4th best at this track? Or will Haas/Renault ruin it.
Will Force India find some cash down the back of the sofa?
Will Honda, not have an engine part fail?
Williams to sort out their issues with the car? Sauber to beat them?
So many questions!
There could be a real variation in strategy between teams, depending on the pace/durability of the Soft vs the Medium tyre here. Last year, this was a two stop race, but if this year’s medium tyre holds up well, we could well see them used for a 1-stop vs 2-stoppers on softer tyres. Interested to see how it plays out.
BTW, the F2 season is starting this coming weekend. All new cars, with new 3.4l V6 turbo engines too (“GP3 Engine! GP3 Engine!”). Is it me, or is this one of the strongest field in years in this category? Some exciting new rookies graduating from lower formulae. Let me know if there is interest in discussing it, I can start another thread.
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4.
| Session | Day | Sky F1 | Channel 4 | Session Start | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri | 1145 | 1155 | 1200 | 1400 |
| Practice 2 | Fri | 1545 | 1555* | 1600 | 1800 |
| Practice 3 | Sat | 1245 | 1300 | 1300 | 1500 |
| Qualifying | Sat | 1500 | 1455 | 1600 | 1800 |
| Race | Sun | 1430 | 1500 | 1610 | 1810 |
*On the More4 channel rather than the usual C4. (H/t cuprabob)
Bahrain International Circuit
Live timing for all sessions available here:
http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...
Another way to follow the race is via Merc’s Pure Pit Wall
https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/p...
Info such as lap times, PU use, technical reports, stewards decisions etc for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...
Weather forecast:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Bahrain/Sak...
The tyre choices:
2017 Qualifying
2017 Race
Fastest Race Lap: 1:32.798 (L46, L. Hamilton; Mercedes)
Has Sebastian cashed out all his luck in the 1st race of the season?
Will Merc pretend to blow away the competition again? C’mon Merc show us what you’ve got!
And will Bottas make amends for the first race and grab pole this time?
Will RBR be able to use their great race pace to spoil the silver and red party?
How many DRS zones will Charlie be able to squeeze in to this track?
What will it take for Kimi to win a race?
Will McLaren be the 4th best at this track? Or will Haas/Renault ruin it.
Will Force India find some cash down the back of the sofa?
Will Honda, not have an engine part fail?
Williams to sort out their issues with the car? Sauber to beat them?
So many questions!
There could be a real variation in strategy between teams, depending on the pace/durability of the Soft vs the Medium tyre here. Last year, this was a two stop race, but if this year’s medium tyre holds up well, we could well see them used for a 1-stop vs 2-stoppers on softer tyres. Interested to see how it plays out.
BTW, the F2 season is starting this coming weekend. All new cars, with new 3.4l V6 turbo engines too (“GP3 Engine! GP3 Engine!”). Is it me, or is this one of the strongest field in years in this category? Some exciting new rookies graduating from lower formulae. Let me know if there is interest in discussing it, I can start another thread.
Edited by Dr Z on Tuesday 3rd April 10:10
Mercedes for the win and qualifying - they will dominate qualifying and just about have enough to keep Ferrari at arms length in the race.
The one interesting question is McLaren's bargeboard upgrade and whether it will move them clear of Renault and closer to Haas.
They are certainly talking a very big game.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135128/alonso-mc...
They have done this before to a certain extent, but always in the context of Honda....they must have a lot of faith in this upgrade, because they are going to look monumentally stupid if this doesn't work.
The one interesting question is McLaren's bargeboard upgrade and whether it will move them clear of Renault and closer to Haas.
They are certainly talking a very big game.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135128/alonso-mc...
They have done this before to a certain extent, but always in the context of Honda....they must have a lot of faith in this upgrade, because they are going to look monumentally stupid if this doesn't work.
It's going to be interesting, for sure. So many people out of place last race with odd luck.
I think it's Hamilton's race and quali to lose. Bottas will be - at best - a distant second.
Hopefully Raikonnen will continue to keep Vettel honest.
I like to see McLaren be the steady 4th team. I've not heard about their new barge boards/side pods. I'll go and look for that.
I'm interested to see if Haas have found a new spot on the grid or if last race was a one off.
I think it's Hamilton's race and quali to lose. Bottas will be - at best - a distant second.
Hopefully Raikonnen will continue to keep Vettel honest.
I like to see McLaren be the steady 4th team. I've not heard about their new barge boards/side pods. I'll go and look for that.
I'm interested to see if Haas have found a new spot on the grid or if last race was a one off.
KobayashiMaru86 said:
Presumably F2 will only be on Sky? Did hear the support races will be getting more exposure going forward which is a good thing. F2 should be fantastic this year
In the UK, yes.Seeing how much improvement Red Bull had in Melbourne relative to the rest of the field, compared to last year...if they improve by the same amount in Bahrain...my lap time predictor is saying that a Red Bull will be on pole.
/Off to see if it's broken
Hamilton made so little fuss about losing the win in Australia to Vettel that I now believe that Mercedes have performance in hand, and Lewis can't wait to unleash the full devastating force of Mercedes qualifying performance in Bahrain. In his own words, wipe the smile off Vettel's face.
Bottas will be interesting this weekend. Is he going to fold under the pressure he is putting himself under or is he going to dial it back a notch, get it all under control and ensure that it's a silver front row.
It looks to me as though the performance gap between Renault and the more powerful PUs has grown if anything since last season, so Bahrain may be one of the circuits where Red Bull will have to keep one eye on Haas which may compromise their strategy and Mercedes / Ferrari killing ambitions.
I am keenly watching McLaren's progress. They were very close to Renault in Australian GP qualifying and can be expected to make rapid progress so I wonder if one or both cars will be able to displace Renault from Q3 and take away a decent points haul without the good fortune they enjoyed in Australia. I have to wonder whether that good fortune extended to McLaren's reliability in Aus.
Force India and Williams were so anonymous in Australia and the struggles of both teams are well publicised so I wonder if we'll see them falling off the back and running around in no mans land ahead of the Saubers and Toro Rossos. Equally, I could imagine Force India 'arriving' and creating a headache for Haas, McLaren and Renault.
Bottas will be interesting this weekend. Is he going to fold under the pressure he is putting himself under or is he going to dial it back a notch, get it all under control and ensure that it's a silver front row.
It looks to me as though the performance gap between Renault and the more powerful PUs has grown if anything since last season, so Bahrain may be one of the circuits where Red Bull will have to keep one eye on Haas which may compromise their strategy and Mercedes / Ferrari killing ambitions.
I am keenly watching McLaren's progress. They were very close to Renault in Australian GP qualifying and can be expected to make rapid progress so I wonder if one or both cars will be able to displace Renault from Q3 and take away a decent points haul without the good fortune they enjoyed in Australia. I have to wonder whether that good fortune extended to McLaren's reliability in Aus.
Force India and Williams were so anonymous in Australia and the struggles of both teams are well publicised so I wonder if we'll see them falling off the back and running around in no mans land ahead of the Saubers and Toro Rossos. Equally, I could imagine Force India 'arriving' and creating a headache for Haas, McLaren and Renault.
Vocal Minority said:
Mercedes for the win and qualifying - they will dominate qualifying and just about have enough to keep Ferrari at arms length in the race.
The one interesting question is McLaren's bargeboard upgrade and whether it will move them clear of Renault and closer to Haas.
They are certainly talking a very big game.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135128/alonso-mc...
They have done this before to a certain extent, but always in the context of Honda....they must have a lot of faith in this upgrade, because they are going to look monumentally stupid if this doesn't work.
They’ve spent the last 4 years looking monumentally stupid so I haven’t got much hope sadly. It would be nice to see Alonso up there The one interesting question is McLaren's bargeboard upgrade and whether it will move them clear of Renault and closer to Haas.
They are certainly talking a very big game.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135128/alonso-mc...
They have done this before to a certain extent, but always in the context of Honda....they must have a lot of faith in this upgrade, because they are going to look monumentally stupid if this doesn't work.
New ICE for Gasly, and new MGU-H and Turbo for both Gasly and Hartley.
I predict engine penalties for the team before they even make it to the European races...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-replaces-...
I predict engine penalties for the team before they even make it to the European races...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-replaces-...
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