2015 Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir

[SectorOne]

So you're expecting OPP?

No i think even a OOP is enough for Mercedes to put down a significant gap between them and Ferrari.

My theory (probably totally wrong) is that the Ferrari will have trouble keeping the Medium´s in their operating window similar to China, but this time one more sector is straight lines and it´s even lower temps.

I expect the Merc to keep the Ferrari at arm´s length on the Soft stints just to make sure it can do the stint length required.
So in general i expect a very similar race to China in terms of tires, only a bit more extreme once the Medium´s gets slapped on.

We will see, i´m never good with predictions.

[Unc1eM0nty]

As the temps drop the Merc will get stronger, soft or hard. I feel Ferrari will need to carve out a gap to win.

Track position / dictating strategy is key to both teams getting the best our of their tires in the first stint, can't wait to see that first breaking zone .

[GPR-A duplicate2]

The final margin of 4 tenth between Lewis and Vettel looks slightly odd. While, on an average there was an opportunity to go at least half a second faster from Q2 to Q3 (analysis based on different driver's performance in Q2 and Q3), Lewis went just a tenth faster. Bruno was doing a comparison of Lewis and Vettel's quali laps on skypad and in a lot of turns, Vettel was going wide and Lewis was staying just on and within the curbs, indicating that it was not a balls to wall lap.

In Q3 itself, the first run for Lewis was a 1:33.522 and for Vettel it was 1:34.522, both on used set of soft tyres. Vettel improved by 1.54 seconds for the final Q3 time to set 1:32.982 and Lewis improved by just 0.951 seconds to set 1:32.571. Again, both on new softs.

It seems that Vettel and Nico saved a bit more life on the tyres in Q2, with which they would be starting the race on.
One more time, Vettel proving that if the car has a stable rear, he is a different driver and can hook some really great laps.
Starting to feel sorry for Nico. It appears that he is messed up in his head.

[Sevach]

Anyone knows what were the track temps today in qualifying?

[giantfan10]

So you're expecting OPP?

No i think even a OOP is enough for Mercedes to put down a significant gap between them and Ferrari.

My theory (probably totally wrong) is that the Ferrari will have trouble keeping the Medium´s in their operating window similar to China, but this time one more sector is straight lines and it´s even lower temps.

I expect the Merc to keep the Ferrari at arm´s length on the Soft stints just to make sure it can do the stint length required.
So in general i expect a very similar race to China in terms of tires, only a bit more extreme once the Medium´s gets slapped on.

We will see, i´m never good with predictions.

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia... if ferrari have the pace they will be able to follow and pass the mercedes without destroying their tires...
this race as far as tires go is the exact opposite to china thats where you are going wrong in your analysis
mercedes is the faster car over one lap but how long will that last in the race with ferrari being gentler on the tires?
i think hamilton will be ahead in the first stint and we will know a lot more about the race at the end of the first stint when deg comes into play.
my gut feeling for the race is
Hamilton
Vettel
kimi
Rosberg

[Juzh]

Anyone knows what were the track temps today in qualifying?

Q1 31°C
Q2 30°C
Q3 29°C
air 25

[Jordan44]

Wonder if Nico will carry an extra radio with him tomorrow......so he can tell Vettel to speed up because Kimi is getting close?

Couldn't resist.

Nico`s comment about blocking was childish but when things don`t go in Lewis`s way he just blames people for being racist which is even more ridiculous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPBrJ74C8I

If everyone was judged by what they did years ago the world would be a very different place. Judge him by what he does now, not then.

On topic, I expect we'll see a race between Lewis and Seb, and a separate race between Nico and Raikonnen, but crucially, any one of them could win.

Plus Lewis actually only said that once. He makes it sound like Lewis made the comment about his skin colour every time something goes wrong. Sour grapes.

Onto the race, I agree. I don't think Nico and Kimi will be in the fight for the win. If Lewis remains ahead into the first turn then I think his clean air pace will be good enough to walk a win.

[Phil]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia... if ferrari have the pace they will be able to follow and pass the mercedes without destroying their tires...

That's assuming they were fueled equally. Perhaps Mercedes were just running that bit heavier, which is skewing perception.

My take is that Merc will have slightly better pace but come in a tad bit earlier.

[dans79]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia...

You seem to be forgetting they can change the set-up after FP2. Nico's comments in the post qualifying interview seem to point Merc trading out right pace, for better race pace. No to mention we have no idea how much fuel they had on board during FP2.

[SectorOne]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....

Just like how when you looked at the long run pace in China.
Wasn´t very indicative of the true Medium peformance on the cars.

this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia...

Fully aware of that. But unlike you i don´t think the Mercedes has any problems with rear limited circuits.
But rather 60 degree track temps.

[Jordan44]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia...

You seem to be forgetting they can change the set-up after FP2. Nico's comments in the post qualifying interview seem to point Merc trading out right pace, for better race pace. No to mention we have no idea how much fuel they had on board during FP2.

Giantfan has been trying to downplay Mercedes all weekend.

It's just practise. In China the long runs looked just as close as Malaysia in FP, but when it came to the race they had it under control.

Nico's qualifying interview suggested that the car has improved quite drastically from Friday in terms of setup. They said they struggled with heat in the tyres in cold conditions, but have resolved that based on qualifying.

[GrizzleBoy]

It seems that Vettel and Nico saved a bit more life on the tyres in Q2, with which they would be starting the race on.
One more time, Vettel proving that if the car has a stable rear, he is a different driver and can hook some really great laps.
Starting to feel sorry for Nico. It appears that he is messed up in his head.

Indeed.

Looks like the test for tomorrow will be if:

a) Lewis destructive pace in Q2 will be hugely detrimental in the first stint tomorrow, given hell have clean track to drive in unless he has a bad start or Ferraris have one of their famous rocket fuel powered starts.

b) If Vettel saving tyres in Q2 will allow him to attack a Merc on raw pace in dirty air.

c) If Nicos saving tyres in Q2 will allow him to attack both a Ferrari and sister car on raw pace in dirty air.

[giantfan10]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia... if ferrari have the pace they will be able to follow and pass the mercedes without destroying their tires...

That's assuming they were fueled equally. perhaps Mercedes were running a tad bit heavier, which is skewing perception.

My take is that Merc will have slightly better pace but come in a tad bit earlier.

i have had enough of this nonsense.....the long run after the qualifying simulation in FP2 is to simulate the first stint... would you please explain to me why ferrari or any team for that matter would run a light fuel load when its a simulation of the first stint and they know what fuel they are starting on? your best bet is saying maybe mercedes had their engine turned down lol

[Jordan44]

maybe you need to look at long run pace in FP2...the ferraris were every match for the mercedes on both tires....
youre putting to much weight on what happened in china....this track is not front limited it is rear limited like malaysia... if ferrari have the pace they will be able to follow and pass the mercedes without destroying their tires...

That's assuming they were fueled equally. perhaps Mercedes were running a tad bit heavier, which is skewing perception.

My take is that Merc will have slightly better pace but come in a tad bit earlier.

i have had enough of this nonsense.....the long run after the qualifying simulation in FP2 is to simulate the first stint... would you please explain to me why ferrari or any team for that matter would run a light fuel load when its a simulation of the first stint and they know what fuel they are starting on? your best bet is saying maybe mercedes had their engine turned down lol

He didn't say they were running a light fuel load. Ferrari don't know what Mercedes are doing. He said Mercedes were running heavier. There's a difference. Light suggests near-qualifying trim. There only needs to be 2 or 3 laps worth of fuel more on the Merc for perception to be skewed, even though I don't believe that's the case.

[NAPI10]

Is there any way, I can watch qualifying highlights of re-telecast on web?