2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Discussion Thread

[DanielPT]

As for appetite for nose-cone destruction, i'm as eager to get my stupid F1 fix as ever, and silghtly annoyed with the opinions of Bernie's mental state, Bahrainian affairs, fears over protestors and what might happen that are right now bogarting several threads.

You tell me. As you might guess from my first post, this thread was supposed to have none of this all, but look how that worked out.

Well, that was always going to impossible. This is without doubt one of the biggest scandals in the past decade of F1 - up there with Indy '05 at the moment, and if anything undesirable happens over the next couple of days it will change Formula One forever.

So please forgive people if they feel, as I do, that there are in fact more important things than, as Vettel said, 'tyre temperatures, cars'.

Frankly, I'm seriously considering my support of this 'sport'.

If I may correct you, this has all the things to be one of the all time biggest scandals of F1 if anything wrong happens. But then again, if nothing happens, only we, the hardcore fans, will speak about it after this season (It might also have a slight impact in sponsorship)... There are more important things than tyre temperatures, yes, but then we and pretty much everyone else not directly involved with the race warned FIA and exposed their views. Truth is, now that they are there and decided to go ahead, there not much else that we can do except than to hope everything goes well... Focusing on the sport might look like denial, issue avoidance and forgetting the people of Bahrain, but it is not. It is just what we always do and why we are here.

[shinji]

Focusing on the sport might look like denial, issue avoidance and forgetting the people of Bahrain, but it is not. It is just what we always do and why we are here.

It may be what we always do, but F1 isn't always big news outside the sports pages, let alone for all the wrong reasons.

[johnston21]

Well, as threatened, http://www.formula1.com/ is 'experiencing difficulties'.

EDIT: Okay....it was a minute ago, honest!

It's giving connection timed out. I guess it suits them for this weekend.

It's up and down like a yo-yo at the moment. Guess we're seeing "work-in-progress."

[Shadaza]

It is slightly tragic that this is perhaps the most global coverage F1 has ever gotten. A cynic would argue that a good race in Bahrain could boost F1 ratings all season. Perhaps this is what Bernie wants most of all.

[DanielPT]

Focusing on the sport might look like denial, issue avoidance and forgetting the people of Bahrain, but it is not. It is just what we always do and why we are here.

It may be what we always do, but F1 isn't always big news outside the sports pages, let alone for all the wrong reasons.

I agree. But then again what is big news these days if not for the wrong reasons? I also think that F1 would do better to avoid the limelight but we all know that this was not Max and Bernie way and we are still stuck with Bernie... The only thing I argue is that we don't need to make it all about the off-track affairs.

[CoopsII]

if nothing happens, only we, the hardcore fans, will speak about it after this season.

I think that might be wishful thinking. Also, nobody is stopping other members discussing things like tyres or times, but if those posts are by and large being ignored perhaps it just reflects how many people feel about the Other Issues.

[AdrianSutil]

if nothing happens, only we, the hardcore fans, will speak about it after this season.

I think that might be wishful thinking. Also, nobody is stopping other members discussing things like tyres or times, but if those posts are by and large being ignored perhaps it just reflects how many people feel about the Other Issues.

Well Kovalainen has just tweeted to say the heat will play a major role in tyre choices and set-up options. As many teams cope with tyre wear in different ways, he expects a lot of different strategies to play out across the weekend. Especially at the back of the grid. So if someone gets it spot on and has a clean race, we could see a Marussia or a Caterham fighting well inside the midfield.

That being said, it's always going to be difficult to ignore the off-track problems. At the end of the day, the ongoing political problems with Bahrian and the whole should we/shouldn't we saga of being here in the first place takes priority over discussing set-up choices and grid position.

[WeirdKerr]

i wont be watching... as far as im concerned there is no race this weekend

[RealRacingRoots]

Well, as threatened, http://www.formula1.com/ is 'experiencing difficulties'.

EDIT: Okay....it was a minute ago, honest!

Anonymous Press Release – Operation Bahrain
Thursday – April 19, 2012 7:00 PM ET USA
Anonymous has watched with growing alarm the incredible human rights abuses of the Bahrain regime. We have watched this tyrannical government tear gas it’s own people literally to death, with over 30 fatalities so far. We have watched as thousands of innocent protesters and activists have been jailed. We have suffered with our dear friend @AngryArabiya on Twitter as she watches her father slowly die of a hunger strike in prison to protest the atrocities committed by the regime of this “king” of Bahrain. We have witnessed doctors and nurses imprisoned for simply treating the wounded protesters that your security forces have brutalized. And finally we have suffered in outrage the ignorance and out right lies of mainstream media regarding what is REALLY happening in Bahrain.
1) This is NOT a Shia uprising against a Sunni government. It is a popular and peaceful revolt against the medieval concept of absolute monarchy. It is a movement that spans all strata and sectors of society, and all religions in Bahrain. It is a movement that demands only freedom, justice – and democracy.
2) This government is not quelling violent protests, it is brutally and violently crushing peaceful dissent.
3) This government is NOT legitimate. It is a tyrannical, barbaric – and human rights violating dictatorship. And ANYONE doing business with this regime have the blood of Bahrain’s Freedom Martyrs on their hands.
For over a year now, we have as a global movement concentrated our efforts in Libya and Syria, leaving Anonymous Bahrain to to defend their fellow citizens in cyber space. This will no longer be the case. As of tomorrow, Friday – April 20, 2012 the entire global Anonymous will begin to take up the cause of the Bahrain Revolution. The King of Bahrain be warned, we are about to unleash the worst shitstorm you have ever seen – and your time as dictator is over. We will help your people remove you from power, and we will see you tried in the Hague for your many crimes against humanity.
The occasion of Anonymous re-launching Operation Bahrain will be this despicable Grand Prix Formula One race to be held in Bahrain tomorrow through the 22nd of April. Mr. Eccelstone, you are either one evil mother bathplug to hold your race in support of this regime (The Kings family are actually investors and make direct profit) – or else you have been lied to and are ignorant of the atrocities committed by these tyrants. In either case, beginning tomorrow – and lasting for the duration of your race we are going to bathplug educate you on the truth in a way you can not ignore.
Beginning tomorrow, and lasting for the duration of this race – Anonymous will turn your web site (www.formula1.com) into a smoking crater in cyber space. We will also jam your phone lines, bomb your E-Mail inboxes – and wreck anything else of yours we can find on the internet. You can god damn well expect us. And to anyone in the world who watches this race, either in person or on television – you also have the blood of the Bahrain Freedom Martyrs on your hands. Turn your face away from this abominable entertainment, and join us online to defend the brave protesters fighting for their freedom in Bahrain.
Finally, we join with Anonymous Bahrain in asking that all the drivers in this race protest this evil regime by refusing to cross the start line at the beginning of the race. Internet Freedom Fighters around the globe, join us this weekend and fight for freedom and justice in Bahrain: irc.voxanon.net #OpBahrain
We Are Anonymous – We Are Everywhere – We Are Legion – We Never Forget – We Never Forgive – EXPECT US SIGNED — Anonymous

Interesting....

[Klon]

Interesting....

More like melodramatic. Am I supposed to be proud of these guys? Well, guess what, I am not - since this protest is a useless waste of time. If you want something done about Bahrain, don't hack a website but go to your gouvernment and demand they do something about it via diplomatic means (embargos etc.). Why aren't the protesters in the Western world doing that? Because it doesn't help jack. So it's just like this hacking, except actually protesting takes effort. If there's anything wrong with our generation it's the fact that we have managed to make ourselves believe that our laziness achieves something.

[RealRacingRoots]

If there's anything wrong with our generation it's the fact that we have managed to make ourselves believe that our laziness achieves something.

The Kony campaign in 10 seconds.

[shinji]

Oh no, what will F1 do without it's official website? Hacktivists are SO BRAVE!


Jaysus, this weekend can not end quickly enough.

[DemocalypseNow]

If there's anything wrong with our generation it's the fact that we have managed to make ourselves believe that our laziness achieves something.

The Kony campaign in 10 seconds.

I have deliberately avoided watching that video because of how pointless it is. It won't do jack sh*t at solving any problems, it just made the maker famous and then lose his mind.

I have mixed feelings about Anonymous. Occasionally they do something useful, but a lot of the time they do something pointless and stupid. This undoubtedly falls into the latter category.

[IceG]

If this race goes pear-shaped, who will carry the can?

The Bahraini government have declared that everything is safe for F1, governments are rarely responsible for anything bad. The teams have taken guidance from the FIA and have a contract to race with Bernie, presumably with clauses that guarantee an appropriate sporting environment. And Bernie has been the chief advocate and mouthpiece for the race going ahead.

So can we look forward to a bun-fight between Jean Todt and Bernie? Will the investors in F1 really want to support Bernie in that fight?

This could be the end for Bernie, he said trying to find a silver lining in this mess.

[TomWazzleshaw]

This could be the end for Bernie, he said trying to find a silver lining in this mess.

The problem is there's nobody on the face of the Earth that's capable of running the commercial side of the sport, no matter how questionable his antics are. Unless Dr Baker hurries the hell up and marries one of the Ecclestone daughters.

[FMecha]

Who expects red flag on this race?

And here's a news report on the recent Anonymous attacks...

[Sublime_FA11C]

Kudos to Ricciardo for his very respectable time in FP3 esp. sec3. Oh and it's pretty clear Red Bull were not kidding themselves when they said they might do better in Bahrain. While Rosberg seems to treat P1 now like his 'precious' and wont let anyone near it.

Qualy should be good.

[the Masked Lapwing]

Nice work Kovy

It's always funny when it happens to Schumacher.

[QuickYoda41]

KOVALAINEN

[GwilymJJames]

SCHUMACHER OUT IN Q1!!!!

Kovalainen IN to Q2!

De La Rosa beats Glock!

[RonDenisDeletraz]

According to Crofty Vergne has outqualified Ricciardo 3-0

[dinizintheoven]

Heikki!
Where did that come from?
Maybe that Clatterham isn't such a difficult-third-album failure after all...

[DanielPT]

Nice work Kovy

It's always funny when it happens to Schumacher.

Major blunder from Mercedes. McLaren very lucky...

[TomWazzleshaw]

Vergne can't qualify if his life depended on it. And now he's missed the weigh bridge as well

[Mister Fungus]

Is this the first time one of the "new" teams outqualified the existing one on merit (vergne on the same tyres, not schumi)?

[the Masked Lapwing]

Vergne can't qualify if his life depended on it. And now he's missed the weigh bridge as well

I have a nasty feeling that Ricciardo could be the next Trulli - he's destroying Vergne in quali, but in race trim Vergne has been way better.

[QuickYoda41]

According to Crofty Vergne has outqualified Ricciardo 3-0

Ricciardo always went one session further than Vergne

[DanielPT]

Vergne can't qualify if his life depended on it. And now he's missed the weigh bridge as well

I have a nasty feeling that Ricciardo could be the next Trulli - he's destroying Vergne in quali, but in race trim Vergne has been way better.

Ricciardo train?

[QuickYoda41]

Is this the first time one of the "new" teams outqualified the existing one on merit (vergne on the same tyres, not schumi)?

Last year in Silverstone Kovalainen out-qualified both Toros.

[dr-baker]

This could be the end for Bernie, he said trying to find a silver lining in this mess.

The problem is there's nobody on the face of the Earth that's capable of running the commercial side of the sport, no matter how questionable his antics are. Unless Dr Baker hurries the hell up and marries one of the Ecclestone daughters.

Someone sort out a meeting between me and one of them, and I'll be there! As a uni student, I have all summer...

And Schumacher from a front-row start a week ago to a Q1 drop-out today!

[Klon]

Schumi claims technical problems (rear wing issue) while I claim amusement about Mercedes failure

[DanielPT]

Lotus blunder for Raikkonen. The second "it will be fine" in this session.

[Ubik]

The track keeps getting faster and faster and faster......

Should see a manic last minute of Q1.

[QuickYoda41]

Ricciardo in Q3

[the Masked Lapwing]

One STR out in Q1, the other makes Q3. Makes my theory seem better now

[GwilymJJames]

Lots of speculation on Twitter that we're seeing a lot less of Force India than would be expected...

[TomWazzleshaw]

Lots of speculation on Twitter that we're seeing a lot less of Force India than would be expected...

At one point it was just the two Force Indias and Massa on track. Guess which car they followed for the lap?

[DanielPT]

Lots of speculation on Twitter that we're seeing a lot less of Force India than would be expected...

Di Resta is in Q3 (a fine effort by the way). Let's see if we catch a glimpse of him.

[QuickYoda41]

One STR out in Q1, the other makes Q3. Makes my theory seem better now

Until Ricciardo's race.

[Shadaza]

Why must ferrari continue to screw massa. Making his final lap 3 minutes before the end of the session, not fair at all.