2023 Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir, March 03 - 05

[PlatinumZealot]

Alonso was able to push the hard tyres early on and it didn't hurt in the end. Amazing car.

[mzivtins]

Mercedes have firmly dropped the ball.
They were shown up by a customer team.

Last year they completely exhausted the patience of their fans and they cannot and should not believe they can ask for more patience.

If Hamilton wants another WDC he needs to leave that team, it will be 2026 before that car is reasonable on pace again, GR is fine as he has the years with him to do it.

This is the start of the downfall of Mercedes? Possibly, is it deserved? I think it is actually, relying on that great engine they had for far too long.
We just need the toxic TeamLH fans come to their reasonable sense and start calling Mercedes out on this, but I suspect they instead will come up with FIA conspiracy theories?

Watching merc implode this season will make it very interesting, I feel like an utter moron for believing any word any of them have said over the last season.

[dfegan358]

Could alonso have gotten close to leclerc ?

[chrisc90]

Well my prediction.

*RB ahead and in a league of their own, Max will be ahead of Checo.
*Going to put Charles or Alonso in 3rd, favouring Charles for P3 however, but if the AMR has better deg than expected due to Alonso bringing the tyre in harder initially in his race runs, then it might surprise the Ferrari's/Charles.
*Alonso to have early battles with Sainz but I think Alonso will come true once the Ferrari tyre begins to drop off more than the AMR.
*Expecting Merc to have slightly better deg than their race run sims due to bolting on a higher DF rear wing.
*Stroll I think will finish behind the 2 mercs - mainly due to the struggles with the injuries he's carrying, potentially struggling to finish the race.

Going to put the RBR about .3 ahead of anyone else in the race pace, then fairly equal between Alo and the Ferrari's, Merc im going to say anything between .750-1second off the RBR in terms of race pace

Could be majorly wrong with that, and could all change by the sprint down to Turn 1.

Not massively away I guess.

Bit off with the Ferrari race pace but I think Charles was closer to 0.3 away from the RB's. Spot on with the merc race pace, upper end of my guess of 0.75-1second.

Shocker was Charles not finishing.
Stroll had a superb race. Credit to him

[AR3-GP]

Could alonso have gotten close to leclerc ?

I think so if he didn't lose all the time behind the Mercedes.

[Sevach]

Good racing outside of Max, the new triple world champion.
Ferrari is behind by a lot and reliability still stinks.
Good work Alonso and Aston Martin.
Mercedes should also consider how to best tackle 2024.

[Logie]

Pretty sad race, only enjoyment was Alonso and Gasly.

Merc miles away agree that we wont see them compete for a title untill 2026. Ferrari look a bit stuck as well, hopefully we get Ferrari vs Aston vs Merc? But the Aston looks so good, such a good base to build apon and improve they could jump to number 2

[AMG.Tzan]

Stop writing nonsense like “Mercedes was only winning because of their engine during 2014-2021”

They had a great chassis too and they were the only ones to manage to run their car without rake and still beat everyone! Ferrari’s engine in 2017-2019 and Honda’s in 2021 was better yet Mercedes still won!

I know it’s difficult for Red Bull fans to accept that Newey didn’t manage to produce a good car during 2014-2021! Even with the rule change on floors (which was only put in place to hurt Mercedes) he didn’t manage to get the Constructors championship!

[Sevach]

Could alonso have gotten close to leclerc ?

If Lance didn't bump him lap 1 they would be very close on pace, having to fight through Russel, Hamilton and Sainz i think not.

[PlatinumZealot]

Mercedes is not bad all said and done their racepace was better than I expected. Same rear suspension as AMR23 so the potential is there.
Lets see hos the cars goes on other tracks.

For Carlos Sainz.. I actually think is closer in qualifying to Charles than in the race. Makes sense that he was really close to Max when they sere teammates.

I think RedBull is unstoppable this year.

0.7 seconds a lap gap to Ferrari
1 second a lap gap to everyone else...
Championship pretty much over.

[chrisc90]

Mercedes is not bad all said and done their racepace was better than I expected. Same rear suspension as AMR23 so the potential is there.
Lets see hos the cars goes on other tracks.

For Carlos Sainz.. I actually think is closer in qualifying to Charles than in the race. Makes sense that he was really close to Max when they sere teammates.

I think RedBull is unstoppable this year.

0.7 seconds a lap gap to Ferrari
1 second a lap gap to everyone else.... Race pace.

Just waiting for the timing data to pop up, but I dont think its as much as that, especially to Charles. Granted RB were cruising, we will get a decent idea until 2/3's of the race.

[DGP123]

I’d expect AM to out-develop and leapfrog Ferrari over a season. Ferrari usually bring their car, and it just stagnates. If Merc focus on 24’, then this three way battle, might end up fizzling out. It’s the only interest this year, but even that might last for so long, depending upon priorities.

[Dejaeger22]

No emotions on Alonso’s face when he saw who hit him on lap one.

[Redragon]

I’d expect AM to out-develop and leapfrog Ferrari over a season. Ferrari usually bring their car, and it just stagnates. If Merc focus on 24’, then this three way battle, might end up fizzling out. It’s the only interest this year, but even that might last for so long, depending upon priorities.

I think the first update of the AM could bring them close to the Redbull even with their limited time and punishment from last year on the Redbull side. The problem would be to sustain it over the year into next year

[vas_04614]

No emotions on Alonso’s face when he saw who hit him on lap one.

He was already told on Radio during inlap