2020 Bahrain Free Practice & Qualifying Thread

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Thu Nov 26, 2020 8:33 pm

Just noticed we didn’t have a thread so here we go!

Mort Canard · Post by **Mort Canard** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:57 am

Lewis and Sebastian have mostly dominated this race since 2012. Seems to be a prime opportunity for Lewis this year.

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:01 am

Mort Canard wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:57 am
Lewis and Sebastian have mostly dominated this race since 2012. Seems to be a prime opportunity for Lewis this year.

Everything is a prime opportunity for Lewis this year...

Badgeronimous · Post by **Badgeronimous** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 12:56 pm

Take Mercedes and Williams out the equation, and the other 16 cars seem very close.

Less than 0.9s between 3rd and 16th.

Lojik · Post by **Lojik** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:50 pm

Oh dear, Albon.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:27 pm

Sounds as though these tyres don't have an awful lot of life. Two-stopper in the offing? Or will we see race pace way off quali, as everyone manages the tyre life?

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:57 pm

tootsie323 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:27 pm
Sounds as though these tyres don't have an awful lot of life. Two-stopper in the offing? Or will we see race pace way off quali, as everyone manages the tyre life?

Could it be both?

Alienturnedhuman · Post by **Alienturnedhuman** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:12 pm

Lojik wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:50 pm
Oh dear, Albon.

Perez can't drive his car if he doesn't leave him a car.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm

Alienturnedhuman wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:12 pm

Lojik wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:50 pm
Oh dear, Albon.
Perez can't drive his car if he doesn't leave him a car.

Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:37 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!

Red Bull are desperate not to put Perez in the car with Verstappen. While I'm confident he'll prevail, it'll be the sternest challenge he'll have faced for two seasons since Ricciardo departed. It may be closer than anyone would like given Sainz and Ricciardo struggled to defeat Hulk.

With Perez, they risk hurting Verstappen's reputation as a wunderkid and asking difficult questions for the efficacy of the Red Bull junior program.

j man · Post by **j man** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:02 pm

tootsie323 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:27 pm
Sounds as though these tyres don't have an awful lot of life. Two-stopper in the offing? Or will we see race pace way off quali, as everyone manages the tyre life?

Surely a two-stop? Passing is too easy with the DRS on this track to make trundling around preserving tyres a viable strategy.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:17 am

17 minutes and there’s three drivers who have set timed laps. Yawn.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 12:03 pm

Ferrari is red
Williams are blue
Verstappen top in third practice
Mercedes 1-2

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 1:36 pm

Albon gets a lot of stick but he is well up there with Verstappen, Hamilton and Bottas in third practice. I don't really mind hime crashing, though I don't have to rebuild the car. At least he is going for it!
We'll see in Quali of course.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:13 pm

Traffic jams on out laps, it’s going to be carnage next weekend.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:16 pm

at the moment vertually every pair of team mates have around half a second between them other than the haas pair, that are incredibly close.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:18 pm

RP have risked a bit with stroll. slower tyres and now he has to rely on no incident in the last few seconds or he is in trouble.

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:20 pm

JN23 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:13 pm
Traffic jams on out laps, it’s going to be carnage next weekend.

That depends. With significantly fewer corners, they may not need to go as slow as there will be a lot less wear on the tyres. It may also be easier to shuffle around on out laps when there are few tight corners.

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:48 pm

both ferrari out of Q3

spiritone · Post by **spiritone** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:54 pm

Racing point, if they're not screwing up one of the drivers in Qualifying they are screwing up the other.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 2:58 pm

CROFTY, will you shut up about spicy curries! just because someone mentions the word spicy doesn't mean you need to drag it out and start talking rubbish..... If only he was getting replaced next year instead of Edwards on channel 4.

Schumacher forever#1 · Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:02 pm

Over a second gap to Albon, and battling with the mighty Mercedes

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:04 pm

I think the only chance Bottas has of pole is pulling out a surprise lap at the very end like he managed in q3 at baku last year, otherwise I feel he may be 3rd.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:13 pm

Ocon 0.002 off Ricciardo, yikes.

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:13 pm

98th pole, 2 more and his in the 3 digits

Schermerhorn · Post by **Schermerhorn** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:19 pm

Vettel looks more comfortable in the car now too. Hope he finishes the season strong and regains some confidence back.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:23 pm

AWS latest unnecessary invention of predicting qualifying pace predicted a grand total of two drivers in the correct position, Albon and Latifi.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:30 pm

Vettel was annoyed with his lap and I believe he got a tow from Leclerc at the beginning of the lap. I don't think he performed especially well here - Leclerc didn't come close to nailing his effort.

Albon was the definition of "whatever".

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:32 pm

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:04 pm
I think the only chance Bottas has of pole is pulling out a surprise lap at the very end like he managed in q3 at baku last year, otherwise I feel he may be 3rd.

He did end up putting a good lap together. He lost almost all his time to Hamilton only through turn 13, going by Karun's analysis at the Skypad, or whatever it's called.

But Hamilton was just relentlessly consistent and fast throughout qualifying. Bottas at least saved himself by ensuring P2 and at the final moment piecing together a lap.

Edit: Just watched the post-qualy presser and the comments confirm this picture. Bottas was rather pleased with his final lap and surprised at the gap between himself and Carl Davidson.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:46 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm

Alienturnedhuman wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:12 pm

Lojik wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:50 pm
Oh dear, Albon.
Perez can't drive his car if he doesn't leave him a car.
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!

It's one of the wonders of the world, the mythical closing gap.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:37 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!
Red Bull are desperate not to put Perez in the car with Verstappen. While I'm confident he'll prevail, it'll be the sternest challenge he'll have faced for two seasons since Ricciardo departed. It may be closer than anyone would like given Sainz and Ricciardo struggled to defeat Hulk.

With Perez, they risk hurting Verstappen's reputation as a wunderkid and asking difficult questions for the efficacy of the Red Bull junior program.

Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.

Schermerhorn · Post by **Schermerhorn** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:02 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:37 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!
Red Bull are desperate not to put Perez in the car with Verstappen. While I'm confident he'll prevail, it'll be the sternest challenge he'll have faced for two seasons since Ricciardo departed. It may be closer than anyone would like given Sainz and Ricciardo struggled to defeat Hulk.

With Perez, they risk hurting Verstappen's reputation as a wunderkid and asking difficult questions for the efficacy of the Red Bull junior program.
Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.

Ouch.

Max the Mental Midget?

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:04 pm

Schermerhorn wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:02 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:37 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!
Red Bull are desperate not to put Perez in the car with Verstappen. While I'm confident he'll prevail, it'll be the sternest challenge he'll have faced for two seasons since Ricciardo departed. It may be closer than anyone would like given Sainz and Ricciardo struggled to defeat Hulk.

With Perez, they risk hurting Verstappen's reputation as a wunderkid and asking difficult questions for the efficacy of the Red Bull junior program.
Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.
Ouch.

Max the Mental Midget?

It's more likely to be Jos.

j man · Post by **j man** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:39 pm

JN23 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:23 pm
AWS latest unnecessary invention of predicting qualifying pace predicted a grand total of two drivers in the correct position, Albon and Latifi.

I continue to be baffled by the idea of these AWS stats. Who on earth thinks that having a computer tell you what the result is going to be is a good thing? Surely the whole appeal of this sport (indeed any sport) is supposed to be uncertainty? It's one of the many symptoms of the sport being run by engineers and corporate types rather than actual motorsport fans.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:19 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm
Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.

Doesn't surprise me. Max firmly believes his own hype and while he may be the fastest driver on the grid, the Red Bull drivers are pretty weak since Ricciardo left.

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:27 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:37 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Am sure RB are still hopeful Albon will get his act together & wait till the last race to decide!
Red Bull are desperate not to put Perez in the car with Verstappen. While I'm confident he'll prevail, it'll be the sternest challenge he'll have faced for two seasons since Ricciardo departed. It may be closer than anyone would like given Sainz and Ricciardo struggled to defeat Hulk.

With Perez, they risk hurting Verstappen's reputation as a wunderkid and asking difficult questions for the efficacy of the Red Bull junior program.
Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.

Considering his 'toys out of the pram' mentality when anything doesn't go his way, I'd love to see him with a top-line teammate.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:33 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:27 pm
Considering his 'toys out of the pram' mentality when anything doesn't go his way, I'd love to see him with a top-line teammate.

I fear that opportunity has passed at Red Bull. The only way I see it happening is if he forces a move to Ferrari or Mercedes while Leclerc or Hamilton are still there. It's clear his dad wants him to follow the Schumacher rulebook so I wouldn't be surprised if we see an Adelaide '94, Jerez '97 or Monaco '06 move from him once he gets competitive machinery.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:57 pm

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:19 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:50 pm
Yeah there's a rumour coming from Denmark that it's the Verstappen's that are blocking Perez, something to do with wanting a more subservient teammate.
Doesn't surprise me. Max firmly believes his own hype and while he may be the fastest driver on the grid, the Red Bull drivers are pretty weak since Ricciardo left.

That doesn't make sense. If Max believed his own hype he wouldn't be worried about how subservient Perez was. He'd never think it would come up.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 8:00 pm

I think Red Bull have already made their mind up and are going with Albon but are waiting for a good result to announce it off the back of. I can't see Verstappen giving two hoots about his team mate being Perez or Hulk though. If Verstappen is as arrogant as everyone here says then he wouldn't be worried about facing tier 2 drivers.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 8:22 pm

mikeyg123 wrote: ↑
Sat Nov 28, 2020 8:00 pm
I can't see Verstappen giving two hoots about his team mate being Perez or Hulk though. If Verstappen is as arrogant as everyone here says then he wouldn't be worried about facing tier 2 drivers.

Max is pretty arrogant, however, his father was brutally beaten by Schumacher and never recovered. Now he's found his Bottas/Raikkonen/Massa that makes him look good, Jos will be determined that his status as wunderkid doesn't get unsettled if an opportunity for a competitive car appears. If Perez is close in ability to Max, a Mercedes is going to have second thoughts about hiring him to replace Hamilton and may opt for Russell.