2018 Bahrain Grand Prix Free Practice & Qualifying Thread

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 12:54 pm

Vettel appears to have a problem

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 12:56 pm

Black_Flag_11 wrote:
Mort Canard wrote:Please someone teach Rachel Brookes to speak so Americans can understand her. Don’t have any particular problem with understanding Crofty or Lazenby.
What is it about the way she talks which makes it difficult?

Women have higher voices that make it harder for us OFs to understand them. Her rapid delivery doesn't help either. I don't think her accent is any thicker than the other announcers but for me she is harder to understand.

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:00 pm

Looks like Vettel may have a PU issue...

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:02 pm

Toro Rosso (Honda) is impressing here. They're just behind Renault in midfield battle.

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:05 pm

Quite impressive from Kimi, although Wolff has once again said that Ferrari are running in high power mode, which suggests that Mercedes are not. I suspect the current pecking state of affairs may change in qualifying!

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:07 pm

Zoue wrote:Quite impressive from Kimi, although Wolff has once again said that Ferrari are running in high power mode, which suggests that Mercedes are not. I suspect the current pecking state of affairs may change in qualifying!

Plus cooler temperatures would again shuffle the order here & there.

Could this weekend belong to Kimi or Bottas if Vettel has PU issues?

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:09 pm

UnlikeUday wrote:
Zoue wrote:Quite impressive from Kimi, although Wolff has once again said that Ferrari are running in high power mode, which suggests that Mercedes are not. I suspect the current pecking state of affairs may change in qualifying!
Plus cooler temperatures would again shuffle the order here & there.

Could this weekend belong to Kimi or Bottas if Vettel has PU issues?

yes, good point. Ferrari tend to go better the hotter it gets

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:12 pm

Honda at the back of Toro Rosso is somewhat of a revelation. The chances of Red Bull Honda in 2019 look increasingly certain.

Mercedes-Benz · Post by **Mercedes-Benz** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:16 pm

Mercedes seems to be struggling. Obviously they will get a boost in qualifying but I think Ferrari also has some engine mode left? Midfiled is so tight. May be Renault are 4th best here not Haas but half a second from P7-P114

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:18 pm

Vandoorne almost half a second slower than Alonso. And making the McLaren look slower than the Toro Rossos here!

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:22 pm

Rumors of Sebastian having problems with the Power Unit. Team told him to back off and bring it in.

Vettel: “Check engine drive-ability. 11 and 12 in particular quite bad. Also now.”
“Box, slow down and box. Abort the start.”
Vettel: “Yep, thought so.”

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:22 pm

The midfield tier will keep reshuffling track by track & also depending on the updates they bring. Toro Rosso have got some aerodynamic updates & they look faster than McLaren even.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:26 pm

Mort Canard wrote:Rumors of Sebastian having problems with the Power Unit. Team told him to back off and bring it in.

Vettel: “Check engine drive-ability. 11 and 12 in particular quite bad. Also now.”
“Box, slow down and box. Abort the start.”
Vettel: “Yep, thought so.”

Seems like a lost opportunity for Vettel & a golden one for Kimi. Afterall, he did feel cheated (somewhat) after Vettel finished ahead of him & won in Australia.

KingVoid · Post by **KingVoid** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:29 pm

Right now the bookies have Vettel as the favourite to win the race. Bottas is behind Hamilton despite Lewis’ penalty, which is damning.

Blinky McSquinty · Post by **Blinky McSquinty** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:15 pm

lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.

Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:23 pm

Merc just doesn't have a good car in Bahrain. Toto is just talking bollocks to the media, as he so often does, for whatever reason. You can see Merc's struggles on track. The car does not look planted at all, while the Ferrari looks composed... Engine modes do not cause that. To my untrained eye, the perking order looks like Ferrari, Redbull, Merc. Lewis is surely starting this race from below the top 10 on harder tires. It will make for an exciting race, but it's very hard to see him win it with the car that he has at his disposal.

Huge win opportunity for Raikonnen, as he looks much more comfortable than Vettel here again, but the Redbulls will be tough during the race, and we don't know if he will be allowed to win.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:29 pm

Blinky McSquinty wrote:
lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.
Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.

Or just be bang average apart from one good start after a safety car a few laps from home.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:43 pm

Mort Canard wrote:
Black_Flag_11 wrote:
Mort Canard wrote:Please someone teach Rachel Brookes to speak so Americans can understand her. Don’t have any particular problem with understanding Crofty or Lazenby.
What is it about the way she talks which makes it difficult?
Women have higher voices that make it harder for us OFs to understand them. Her rapid delivery doesn't help either. I don't think her accent is any thicker than the other announcers but for me she is harder to understand.

Rachel Brookes accent would be very much on the posh sound compared to many of us.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:45 pm

Mercedes-Benz wrote:Mercedes seems to be struggling. Obviously they will get a boost in qualifying but I think Ferrari also has some engine mode left? Midfiled is so tight. May be Renault are 4th best here not Haas but half a second from P7-P114

I'm thinking that maybe they shouldn't even bother with the super softs this weekend.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:47 pm

Blinky McSquinty wrote:
lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.
Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.

It's not racing that would be lights to flag not stop/start.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 2:48 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:
Blinky McSquinty wrote:
lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.
Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.
Or just be bang average apart from one good start after a safety car a few laps from home.

Yeah just send one down the inside.

F1nut · Post by **F1nut** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:13 pm

My man Kimi will do well this weekend - I expect to see him on pole and win the race.

oops, Max crashes......

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:14 pm

Max making mistakes again, wow.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:15 pm

Sheesh...wanted Max in top 3!

Plus point is he'l start 15th whereas Hamilton will be atleast...giving us some fightback through the field.

shay550 · Post by **shay550** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:15 pm

overrated... Daniel has nothing to worry about over the course of the season.

Blinky McSquinty · Post by **Blinky McSquinty** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:15 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:
Blinky McSquinty wrote:
lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.
Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.
Or just be bang average apart from one good start after a safety car a few laps from home.

Yes. Everyone knows the rules and possible scenarios that may arise in a race. Just because you did fantastic for 99% of a race, you are still not entitled to anything. This is racing, hard competition, not a charity or feel-good club.

Racing is a glorious but cruel sport. Get used to it.

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:16 pm

I get the impression that the Channel 4 commentator is not a Verstappen fan. You can almost taste the glee in his voice right now.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:20 pm

Blinky McSquinty wrote:
mikeyg123 wrote:
Blinky McSquinty wrote:
lamo wrote:This grid start after a SC is complete none sense. What a terrible rule. This will guarantee to make 2-3 race wins per season pure luck as well as multiple positions not for the win completely randomised.

A driver can, top every practice session, every Q session, lead every lap and dominate the entire weekend and then have a SC drop in the last 10 laps and get out dragged into turn 1. At some tracks its actually an advantage to start in P2, like Russia. Especially with these huge and wide draggy cars from 2017 on wards.
Yea, isn't that cool? You have to do well every second of the race, no one is entitled to jack squat. This is racing, no one is entitled.
Or just be bang average apart from one good start after a safety car a few laps from home.
Yes. Everyone knows the rules and possible scenarios that may arise in a race. Just because you did fantastic for 99% of a race, you are still not entitled to anything. This is racing, hard competition, not a charity or feel-good club.

Racing is a glorious but cruel sport. Get used to it.

I am used to it and like it the way it is at the moment. I'd rather a package that did brilliantly for 99% or the race won rather than one that did brilliantly for 1%.

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:21 pm

pokerman wrote:
Mort Canard wrote:
Black_Flag_11 wrote:
Mort Canard wrote:Please someone teach Rachel Brookes to speak so Americans can understand her. Don’t have any particular problem with understanding Crofty or Lazenby.
What is it about the way she talks which makes it difficult?
Women have higher voices that make it harder for us OFs to understand them. Her rapid delivery doesn't help either. I don't think her accent is any thicker than the other announcers but for me she is harder to understand.
Rachel Brookes accent would be very much on the posh sound compared to many of us.

Speak for one's self, peasant.

http://mobi.perezhilton.com/2017-03-02- ... -reporters

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:34 pm

Not surprised to see Sauber pair faster than Williams pair.

Altair · Post by **Altair** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:36 pm

Anyone else not at all impressed with Mclaren

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:40 pm

Where's that Hamilton lap come from?

sandman1347 · Post by **sandman1347** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:41 pm

Altair wrote:Anyone else not at all impressed with Mclaren

They barely made it through Q1 so yeah, it seems they are still quite feeble at power circuits.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:43 pm

STR Honda is currently the fourth best car.

Lt. Drebin · Post by **Lt. Drebin** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:44 pm

STR faster than Mclaren. That Honda will make Alonso develop complexes.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:44 pm

sandman1347 wrote:
Altair wrote:Anyone else not at all impressed with Mclaren
They barely made it through Q1 so yeah, it seems they are still quite feeble at power circuits.

Poor Alonso. I really wanted him to run with the big boys, but it ain't happening at Mclaren.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:45 pm

This is awful for Mclaren.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:48 pm

Sainz still can't beat Hulk in qualy.

sandman1347 · Post by **sandman1347** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:49 pm

JN23 wrote:Where's that Hamilton lap come from?

It seems he's just quicker on the softs here. Really the supersofts seem to just be the far worse tire for Mercedes.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:52 pm

The race seems poised to be exciting.