Bahrain GP 2012 - Sakhir

[Lycoming]

well, the penalty is the result of a problem, isn't it?

[raymondu999]

Yes, but not all of those examples you mentioned became penalties. Anyways - I wonder why. What is it that's changed in the power delivery?

I'm hearing that Mickey the Shoe is getting a 5 place grid drop for a gearbox change - wily thinking by Ross Brawn considering that Mickey's towards the back anyways.

[Maelstrom]

So he'll be starting from #22?

[myurr]

It would appear that f1.com is still under a denial of service attack. It's working in fits and starts.

[raymondu999]

Yes. Hackers Anonymous is launching massive DoS attacks on F1.com and fia.com

[banibhusan]

F1.com is fine. Its the fia.com that's down now by the same Anonymous group.

[Maelstrom]

I hope this race goes smoothly and no incidents occur. It's tense enough already. Though a couple of safety car periods might make this one another lottery.

[Fred444]

95% chance somebody is going to crash into MS.

Anyway.....

If he's changing the gearbox can he change the ratios??

[ntc3freak]

Most of us don't realise Hamilton looked very pleased, now this can boil down to the fact if he has a good launch its better to start from P2 coming to Turn 1

He and his team engineer are smart smart cookies

Hamilton seems very pleased every time he beat Button in qualifying and race. Can see he was very happy with his race in Malaysia after Button crash out.

My guess is he was happy in Malaysia because his main competitors (the Buttons, Vettels,etc.) scored less points than he did. I don't think it is because he beat Button. Hamilton will always be faster in terms of outright speed. It is just in the races that Button has an advantage in managing the tires.

And I agree with someone else, I hate seeing the best drivers in the world not be able to give their 100% due to trying to save the tires. But then again, tire difficulties make it more interesting. Hard to say

[andartop]

Talking about Maldonado's gearbox change and subsequent penalty, I couldn't believe it when DC kept going on and on about how pointless it was that Maldonado "wasted" a set of tires to get in Q2 knowing he'd get a penalty. I would have thought Maldonado should have tried his best especially because of the penalty. I mean, Williams has shown to be quite a handy car this year, and if you're midfield I think it does make a difference starting from 15-17 rather than dead last. (Regardless of the fact he didn't really manage to climb high enough.)

[beelsebob]

Talking about Maldonado's gearbox change and subsequent penalty, I couldn't believe it when DC kept going on and on about how pointless it was that Maldonado "wasted" a set of tires to get in Q2 knowing he'd get a penalty. I would have thought Maldonado should have tried his best especially because of the penalty. I mean, Williams has shown to be quite a handy car this year, and if you're midfield I think it does make a difference starting from 15-17 rather than dead last. (Regardless of the fact he didn't really manage to climb high enough.)

I think it makes a difference, but not a significant one. Starting dead last, in a 2012 williams, you're likely to be 17th by the first corner anyway, and your tyres have 3 fewer laps on them. I'd personally take the lower grid slot and fresher tyres.

[raymondu999]

What are we all thinking on strategy? I think optimum will be OPPP. Or maybe if you're a bit more daring you can try OOPPP or OOOPP. OOPP will make Raikkonen's Chinese GP tyres look like superglue

[andartop]

But also greatly increases the risk of getting caught up in a first corner incident?

[beelsebob]

What are we all thinking on strategy? I think optimum will be OPPP. Or maybe if you're a bit more daring you can try OOPPP or OOOPP. OOPP will make Raikkonen's Chinese GP tyres look like superglue

What I find interesting is Hamilton saying "it's a toss up between 2 and 3 stops"... Did he fluff his lines, or do McLaren really have a setup so good that they can run one stop less than everyone else.

[raymondu999]

I don't know. Depends how the tyres hold up. Not much lateral here, but braking and traction are the key issues, as is trail braking. Maybe rhey've set up the car with loads of traction and braking capacity to help reduce the tyre slip under braking and traction. I still think 3 stop is a minimum. Maybe he's trying to fool the others?