|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
20 Apr 2009, 12:04 (Ref:2445444) | #1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,387
|
Formula 1 2009 Round 4 - Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Hi folks, your very own Captain Cupcakix here, welcoming you all to the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend thread!
Yes, Round 3 has only ended but then again, Round 4 has just begun. the Formula 1 circus this week heads to the Sakhir circuit in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the fourth round of this year's series. Red Bull yesterday proved they had what it takes to overhaul BrawnGP in the wet, but how about in the dry? Will Vettel and Webber (or anyone else for that matter) be able to make an impression on the Ross Brawn juggernaut? The Sakhir circuit is certain to be dry this year (even moving the start 'til late afternoon wouldn't change that in Bahrain!), so everyone will get only their second real chance to see how their cars react over a race distance in the dry. The playing field is very much open, and now it looks like the Brawn cars could have a fight on their hands. Felipe Massa has had a love affair with this track, having won the last two races here. But something tells me, with Ferrari having their worst start in 50,000 years (BBC statistics ), that we may well see a new Bahrain GP winner this weekend. Fernando Alonso has two wins here, in '05 and '06, and Michael Schumacher holds the honour of winning the very first Bahrain GP in 2004. And, if Ferrari fail to score here, it will be their worst start in Formula 1. EVER. Cue dramatic music. Will Toyota be able to get their form back? I think so. They were hampered over the weekend by problems and flying Robert Kubicas, but this weekend they should get their groove back, so expect both GlockDog and Trulli to feature prominently. Brawn, as always, will be there, thereabouts or off in the distance, and Red Bull should be there to make up the Top 3. McLaren got a little bit of reward for some hard work by a double-point finish in China, but that was in the wet (where even rain-master Hamilton was unable to keep Kovalainen at bay), and they might lack speed in the dry. It will be very interesting, that's for sure... BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX - STATISTICS Formula 1 World Drivers Championship Standings All F1 smilies courtesy of Andy Blackmore Design! Formula 1 World Constructors Championship Standings
Bahrain International Circuit
V Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Previous Winners
External Links Local Clock and Weather Circuit Diagram Internal Links Fantasy F1 Predictions And, very quickly, the TV schedule for Australian viewers:
Have I overloaded you with information yet? If not, wait until Burnsie arrives and posts all your other vital information! Enjoy! Last edited by Ralf's Girl; 20 Apr 2009 at 19:02. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
__________________
"A lot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing’s important to men who do it well. When you’re racing, it... it’s life. Anything that happens before or after... is just waiting." - Steve McQueen |
20 Apr 2009, 12:05 (Ref:2445446) | #2 | ||
Official Timekeeper!
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,420
|
Nice work Chatters
Quote:
For UK viewers and listeners - or whoever can pick up BBC - here are the scheduled television, interactive and radio times for the race weekend... BBC Television Schedule BBC Red Button Schedule BBC Radio Schedule As far as I can see, there will be no Red Button coverage of Qualifying |
||
__________________
I wasn't speeding, officer. I was qualifying. |
20 Apr 2009, 12:12 (Ref:2445454) | #3 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 238
|
Timo GlockDOG in the standings. Fantastic! Priceless! That had me laughing out loud
(sorry I missed it in the China build-up) On a more thread-related note.. Bring on the weekend! Topsy-turvey grids, topsy-turvey race results, 3 great qualifying sessions, 2.5 great races so far this year. Can't remember a better start to a season. |
||
__________________
Aerodynamics is for those who cannot manufacture good engines" - Enzo Ferrari. |
20 Apr 2009, 13:02 (Ref:2445504) | #4 | |
Official Timekeeper!
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,420
|
I won't be watching the live race (or qualifying either) because I'll be off marshalling this weekend, so hopefully I can avoid hearing the result until the highlights programme!
Here's a link to a lap of Bahrain with Michael Schumacher (2006), just in case anyone needs a reminder of the Sakhir circuit. |
|
__________________
I wasn't speeding, officer. I was qualifying. |
20 Apr 2009, 14:09 (Ref:2445549) | #5 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 758
|
I lived and worked in Bahrain for quite a few years altogether...great place, nice people. Made me feel right at home.
So the GP is always a must for me. Lots of happy memories AND Formula 1. Dry race, temp in the 30's I would imagine. If windy/breezy, drifting sand may be a problem. This IS an exciting season. |
||
__________________
Madness is a normal condition interupted only by spells of sanity. |
20 Apr 2009, 14:18 (Ref:2445553) | #6 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,107
|
Brawn'll be looking forward to this one. Gonna be nice and dry again! Hope it's better then some of the previous Bahrain GPs.
|
||
|
20 Apr 2009, 14:48 (Ref:2445577) | #7 | ||
Race Official
20KPINAL
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 21,606
|
Nive work guys !
|
||
__________________
Show me a man who won't give it to his woman An' I'll show you somebody who will |
20 Apr 2009, 15:52 (Ref:2445638) | #8 | ||
Forum Host
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,529
|
Good job people!
I predict a snoozefest. Bahrain isn't exactly the greatest circuit and the chances of rain is zilch. (watch it pour down now) |
||
__________________
A byte walks into a bar and orders a pint. Bartender asks him "What's wrong?" Byte says "Parity error." Bartender nods and says "Yeah, I thought you looked a bit off." |
20 Apr 2009, 18:34 (Ref:2445752) | #9 | ||
Racer
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 179
|
Be good to have a dry race though, calm everything down! I'm betting on a Brawn vs Toyota duel, with Vettel getting cheekily involved also!
|
||
|
20 Apr 2009, 19:06 (Ref:2445772) | #10 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,361
|
|||
__________________
"The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence which can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense." -- Elizabeth Bennet, 'Pride & Prejudice' |
20 Apr 2009, 19:45 (Ref:2445802) | #11 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,354
|
Thanks for explaining something which was puzzling me, couldn't understand why I can't bring a single corner or incident from Bahrain to mind but I guess you have put your finger on the reason.
|
|
|
20 Apr 2009, 20:06 (Ref:2445816) | #12 | |
20KPINAL
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 29,853
|
The only things I recall from Bahrain are little scraps. Ralf Schumacher comedy in 2004, Rosbergs run in 2006, Button pulling some nice moves on the slightly hobbled JPM in the same year, Hamilton backing the car around there on his way to outperforming Alonso for the first time in 2007, his horror show in 2008.
Other than that, dullness all round. But let's see what the new regs do in a dry race, impressions from Melbourne were favourable. |
|
|
20 Apr 2009, 20:18 (Ref:2445828) | #13 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 238
|
I think that Bahrain will be the acid test of the OWG's reg changes.
The first three races have all been good, so if the changes make for a good race at Sakhir I guess we can say they've succeeded. Fingers crossed! |
||
__________________
Aerodynamics is for those who cannot manufacture good engines" - Enzo Ferrari. |
20 Apr 2009, 20:22 (Ref:2445832) | #14 | |
20KPINAL
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 29,853
|
It should be noted that two of the races have been wet and thus the fun can't really be attributed to the tech regs. Wet races are always good!
But I am optimistic. Although you can't judge it on Bahrain, as I can't think of many good races there in any series. |
|
|
20 Apr 2009, 20:22 (Ref:2445834) | #15 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,760
|
Quote:
Bahrain has overtaking. Usually more than most. The whole tight-hairpin --->straight--->tight-hairpin set-up. If we see loads of overtaking, then perhaps an answer. If there is a reasonable number of moves, then not so much. |
|||
__________________
"The world is my country, and science is my religion." - Christian Huygens: 17th century Dutch astronomer. |
20 Apr 2009, 20:40 (Ref:2445849) | #16 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 238
|
I guess you're right Dutton. Maybe Hungary would be the true test, but that's a long time to wait.
|
||
__________________
Aerodynamics is for those who cannot manufacture good engines" - Enzo Ferrari. |
20 Apr 2009, 23:56 (Ref:2445934) | #17 | |
Retired
20KPINAL
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,897
|
This circuit should provide us with a truer test of individual car performance.Hopefully it will stay dry and be free of safety cars.
Bahrain International Circuit weather forecast. http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/5012?count=10 |
|
|
21 Apr 2009, 00:41 (Ref:2445956) | #18 | |
Official Timekeeper!
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,420
|
Don't forget that Ferrari, Toyota and BMW Sauber did their winter testing in Bahrain... I wonder how much of an advantage (if any) this will give them in their preparations for the weekend.
|
|
__________________
I wasn't speeding, officer. I was qualifying. |
21 Apr 2009, 00:59 (Ref:2445964) | #19 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,594
|
Dont forget the Ten-Tenths F1 Spotters Guide! www.spotterguides.com (will update the Brawn helmets to day-glow later in the week ----which means they are now bound to revert to their usual lids!)
|
||
__________________
---> 2017 Spotter Guides - Le Mans live from 10th June! IMSA WeatherTech, Continental, Porsche GT3 Cup USA, Canada, Lamborghini Super Trofeo NA and Europe also available<--- |
21 Apr 2009, 01:01 (Ref:2445965) | #20 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,760
|
Am I right in thinking Bahrain has quite high tyre wear? Or is this something I've dreamt up? If so, do we know what tyre compounds are being taken? Well, I guess I want to know the latter regardless of wear rates.
I'm assuming any teams with a functioning KERS, which they trust enough to race, will definitely use it? It would surely be rather useful on the hairpin-straight-hairpin stuff... |
||
__________________
"The world is my country, and science is my religion." - Christian Huygens: 17th century Dutch astronomer. |
21 Apr 2009, 01:23 (Ref:2445969) | #21 | ||
Official Timekeeper!
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,420
|
Quote:
Ferrari are aiming to have KERS back on both cars this weekend, but I couldn't see Kubica giving the system another try. |
||
__________________
I wasn't speeding, officer. I was qualifying. |
21 Apr 2009, 08:50 (Ref:2446142) | #22 | |
Retired
20KPINAL
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,897
|
||
|
21 Apr 2009, 14:55 (Ref:2446364) | #23 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,545
|
I don't think that Bahrain will have too much overtaking, and I don't think it will mean the OWG has failed if it doesnt. The problem with Bahrain isn't the track layout... it's the huge amount of sand/dust on the track as soon as you move of the ideal line.
|
|
|
21 Apr 2009, 15:45 (Ref:2446397) | #24 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 11,147
|
I'm guessing the low grip nature of the Bahrain track wont be helping Ferrari then.
|
||
|
21 Apr 2009, 15:55 (Ref:2446404) | #25 | ||
Official Timekeeper!
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,420
|
Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development: Quote:
|
||
__________________
I wasn't speeding, officer. I was qualifying. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[Official] F1 2009 Round 2, 2009 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix | Chatters | Formula One | 326 | 10 Apr 2009 00:05 |
[Race] Formula 1 Round 1 - 2009 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix - Albert Park, Australia | Chatters | Formula One | 1 | 13 Mar 2009 01:27 |
The Bahrain Grand Prix | Kicking-back | Formula One | 40 | 4 Apr 2005 06:27 |
Grand Prix in Bahrain | Cobra | Formula One | 28 | 24 Mar 2003 22:01 |
Monaco Grand Prix in the U.S. Apparently nobody is going to air it. | zetta | Formula One | 17 | 22 May 2002 01:31 |