Bahrain 2009 - Practice and Qualifying Discussion

[CarlosFerreira]

Friday Practice 1 is now finished. Hamilton leads from Heidfeld and Kubica - all of them using KERS, if I am not mistaken.

Oh, and except for Webber (9th), the other three Red Bulls are disappointing a bit: Vettel 12th, 1.3 seconds off the pace, Bourdais is 19th and Buemi is 20th.

Still early days, but without rain on the horizon, lots of heat and long straights, sheer performance (and reliability) will be sorely needed. I expect everyone is on brand new engines, as per this year's new regulations.

[Chilled Phill]

Next session in half an hour.

Any bets on whether Rosberg will make a late fastest lap again...?

[CarlosFerreira]

The weather might prove a problem, again:

An ambient temperature high of 33 degrees Celsius is forecast on Friday, with some cloud, followed by 34 degrees on Saturday and 31 on Sunday. There is also the possibility of a sandstorm on race day.

I believe Bernie is about to fire - or sue! - the governments that, after the Malaysian debacle, don't provide F1 with the needed weather conditions.

[Chilled Phill]

Perhaps we could get the drivers to race the event in rally cars...?

[nit]

CarlosFerreira i think there should be a rule of only one thread for the whole grand weekend covering what happen in all three Practices, Qualifying, Race and ROTR, it would make it alot easier for the Jamie and Enoch to keep this place neat and tidy as there are 3 different post about this weekend.

[CarlosFerreira]

CarlosFerreira i think there should be a rule of only one thread for the whole grand weekend covering what happen in all three Practices, Qualifying, Race and ROTR, it would make it alot easier for the Jamie and Enoch to keep this place neat and tidy as there are 3 different post about this weekend.

Already? Well, there's the "predictions" and the "RoR" threads off the top of my head all right. I agree. Maybe the threads can be merged?

[nit]

I didn't mean it look like it was a pop at you , but there has to be some commonsense needs to be involved here as there already;
ROTR thread
Bahrain Predictions
Tech developments for Bahrain
this one

It just makes sense to me to have one thread for the whole for the grand prix, it just makes sense to me to be honest about it.

[alvaro3d]

I hope Trulli on POLE and WIN the race

[CarlosFerreira]

I didn't mean it look like it was a pop at you , but there has to be some commonsense needs to be involved here as there already;
ROTR thread
Bahrain Predictions
Tech developments for Bahrain
this one

It just makes sense to me to have one thread for the whole for the grand prix, it just makes sense to me to be honest about it.

No worries, mate! I Agree with you. I'm trying to get permission for a one-stop tech thread as well. Cheers!

I hope Trulli on POLE and WIN the race

I'm actually voting for Glock, but the spirit is the same.

[StoneColdSpider]

Vettel for the double and put it on Pole again
GO VETTEL!!!!

[CarlosFerreira]

Saturday morning practice: Piquet's 4th (!), Glock was fastest... until his engine gave up the ghost (I hope he doesn't get a penalty, I'm still counting on him for overall victory), Sutil was close to mid grid, mixing it with the Brawns (!!) and Bourdais was stone dead last, one second adrift of the guy in front, Fisichella.

[Captain Hammer]

mixing it with the Brawns (!!)

Brawn used today's practice session to concentrate on race setups and they didn't run the super-soft compound the way the other teams did. Everybody else seemed to be concerned with getting to the top of the timing sheets after yesterday's mixed results where the bottom five places (and the ones who would hae been knocked out if it were the first qualifying session) were the Ferraris, the BMWs and Kovalainen. There's no way you're going to see times like Hamilton's 1:32 in the race.

[CarlosFerreira]

mixing it with the Brawns (!!)

Brawn used today's practice session to concentrate on race setups and they didn't run the super-soft compound the way the other teams did. Everybody else seemed to be concerned with getting to the top of the timing sheets after yesterday's mixed results where the bottom five places (and the ones who would hae been knocked out if it were the first qualifying session) were the Ferraris, the BMWs and Kovalainen. There's no way you're going to see times like Hamilton's 1:32 in the race.

Sure enough. Have they decided which is the prime tyre yet? I remember that BMWs, for instance, were trying to get heat into the medium compound tyres yesterday, with 50ºC temperature. Maybe that explains part of the difference.

Webber's down there as well, just above Fisichella.

Can anyone confirm if Timo's getting a penalty?

[TomWazzleshaw]

Webber out of Q1
According to the Live Timing commentry he was blocked by Sutil.
And nothing on the Glock situations yet...

[noshpit]

.

[Henrique]

It's the Trulli Train

[noshpit]

word is that sutil is getting a 5 place grid penalty

[TomWazzleshaw]

It's the Trulli Train

Damn it not again
But I swear Glock had the pole all sown up but then Jarno showed us all why he was and still is the Qualifying King

[Nin13]

Pos Driver Team
1. Trulli Toyota
2. Glock Toyota
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault
4. Button Brawn-Mercedes
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
6. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes
7. Alonso Renault
8. Massa Ferrari
9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota
10. Raikkonen Ferrari
11. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
12. Nakajima Williams-Toyota
13. Kubica BMW-Sauber
14. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber
15. Piquet Renault
16. Sutil Force India-Mercedes
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari
18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes
19. Webber Red Bull-Renault
20. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari

WOW!! That was close!!
I bet another new team will win. This time TOYOTA and it will be 1-2.

[Captain Hammer]

This time TOYOTA and it will be 1-2.

Depends on the fuel loads. Don't be so quick to dismiss the Brawns, because if you'll remember Sepang, Button was able to put in some blindingly quick laps after Glock pitted; so much so that when the Brawn came out from its stop, it was ahead of the Toyota. The greater the fuel difference between the Toyotas and everyone else, the more time they'll have to do the same. Brawn have proven they can go much faster with heavier cars, so barring a mistake, you can expect them to be leading the charge.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Button was able to put in some blindingly quick laps after Trulli (not Glock) pitted; so much so that when the Brawn came out from its stop, it was ahead of the Toyota.

Yet another error needed to be corrected Captain
Glock pitted very early at Sepang from memory.
Anyways on a completely different matter did anyone hear about the fires that were coming out of Kubica's car in his pistops in Q1 and Q2?

[Captain Hammer]

It was nearly a month ago and past midnight when I watched the race. Mistakes were bound to happen. The point is that Button did it once before, and he can do it again. Look out for Vettel attempting the same and possibly Hamilton and Barrichello depending on their fuel loads.

[CarlosFerreira]

Toyota might have the upper hand, since they tested in Bahrain during Winter, and might now a thing or two about the track that others are only now getting to realize. If the weights are competitive against the Brawns, and if Timo can get past Jarno before lap 1 is completed, we might see a Toyota victory.

[captainhappy]

What a fantastic season season we have on the go. So great that every three or four years Formula 1 actually rewards a person for watching! I suppose there are five or six potential winners tomorrow, should be great!

[CarlosFerreira]

The weights are out. The Toyotas - especially Glock's, damn! - are running a bit lighter.

1. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 648.5 kg
2. Timo Glock, Toyota, 643
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 659
4. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 652.5
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 652.5
6. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 649
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 650.5
8. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 664.5
9. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 670.5
10. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 671.5
11. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 678.5
12. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 680.9
13. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 698.6
14. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 696.3
15. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 677.6
16. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 678.5
17. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 652
18. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 656
19. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 679
20. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 667.5

1 lap in Bahrain means 2.6 kilos, so work the maths. Lewis and Jenson qualified on the same weight.

Note: there are 4 KERS-running cars on the top 10, and that might make a difference on the run up to first corner. Can the Toyotas hold it together and gain some advantage?

EDIT_ Calculations of fuel-adjusted performance plus predicted first pit-stop moment, courtesy of the BBC:

BBC SPORT'S FUEL-ADJUSTED GRID (with projected race first pit stops*)
1 Trulli (lap 13)
2 Vettel (lap 17)
3 Button (lap 15)
4 Glock (lap 11)
5 Hamilton (lap 15)
6 Barrichello (lap 13)
7 Massa (lap 20)
8 Rosberg (lap 21)
9 Alonso (lap 14)
10 Raikkonen (lap 22)
* Calculated on the weight of fuel left in cars after qualifying had finished

Looking good for Vettel, looking awful for Barrichello and Alonso, of they can't make headway at the beginning. I really hope Glock gets a move on Trulli on the first corner, or else he'll be toast!

[LionZoo]

Honestly I feel Toyota's best shot at a win is to deploy the Trulli train early and let Glock get away.

[alvaro3d]

I'm expecting a win for Vettel tomorrow as soon as the Toyota pits he is gonna push very hard and this kid is good to acomplish something when it matters.

I don't think is looking very good for Ferrari, they are using kers so I believe they will be pitting on laps 17(Massa) and 19(Kimi).

Are the Brawns getting weaker? they arer not very fueled and not up at front.

Anyway we cannot discard the sandstorm, who knows maybe the race stops at lap 10 with Glock up at front

Podium:
Vettel
Trulli
Button

[Debaser]

I think Hamilton will lead after turn 1 (he has KERS and there's a very long run to turn 1) hold everyone up and prevent the Toyotas from breaking away. Vettel then uses fuel to get the lead, pull away and win the race. Button's in trouble with the KERS cars around him, Rubens is stuffed. Also the BMW's are heavier than a WW2 Panzer tank...

[Salamander]

Also the BMW's are heavier than a WW2 Panzer tank...

And as Kubica proved last week, are about as strong as one. Anybody want to bet that Mario Thiessen will have them pull a Saturo Nakajima and take out a few cars at the race start?

[TomWazzleshaw]

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=806253
That just makes Trulli's lap even more stunning