[Official] Round One :Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir

[Jamesy-18]

Interesting first day. The HRT's are so far off the pace it's unreal. I hope for their sake they were carrying the heaviest fuel load of anybody! :P

Seriously though, they are a hazard. Even if Bruno thinks they can knock 5 seconds off, what about Chandhok? With no disrespect to him as a driver, with 1 hour maximum before quali, it can't be good.

Everything else is okay, Lotus and Virgin don't look as far off the pace as originally thought at testing, but I fear HRT is a bit of an embarrasment to F1 currently. By all means, new teams should be allowed into the sport, encourage even, but not when they are that slow.

Looking forward to quali though! Oh, and I approve of the new graphics, they look very nice, a fresh look.

[RaiseYourFist]

Originally Posted by tblincoe

Funny that all the focus is on the new teams when there's a pretty good storyline going on at one of the Big4. Red Bull's going through some pretty major difficulties with the RB6 at Bahrain. Listening to Vettel talk about the car's handling sounded like it was an absolute nightmare.

I would've thought that RBR was the last of the Big4 to suffer from major handling issues due to the amount of carryover from the RB5. Lack of testing mileage showing? Surely Valencia's layout lends itself to the first 2/3 of the lap at Bahrain...

From what I've seen of testing, I believe the RBR isn't as good as they thought it should be and they clearly have lost the advantage they had over the rest of the top teams over the winter

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Seriously though, they are a hazard. Even if Bruno thinks they can knock 5 seconds off, what about Chandhok? With no disrespect to him as a driver, with 1 hour maximum before quali, it can't be good.

Why such a hazard, are you a Massa and Webber fan? HRT have done remarkably well even to get there considering the lateness of everything so they had to start somewhere, even if only one car was ready.

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

I fear HRT is a bit of an embarrasment to F1 currently. By all means, new teams should be allowed into the sport, encourage even, but not when they are that slow.

Embarrassment to whom though? the 'know it alls' at the front of the grid?

I certainly don't feel embarrassed for them and neither should the team itself. There simply isn't much chance for new teams with the ridiculously expensive and snobbish nature of F1 at present so they should be applauded for even turning up.

[Juarez Jed]

I'm with you chunterer.
If you want bigger grids, you will surely expect to get more also-rans than front-runners, particularly at the first GP of the year.
There is nothing to be ashamed of in getting out there and having a go, USF1 have set the new benchmark for how bad you have to be to be considered a failure.
If they fail so be it, but no need to cull them prematurely.
On a lap time per dollar spent ratio the new teams would all be at the top surely ?

[bdwoody]

quote...I certainly don't feel embarrassed for them and neither should the team itself. There simply isn't much chance for new teams with the ridiculously expensive and snobbish nature of F1 at present so they should be applauded for even turning up.

here here well said that man .

[strider]

Originally Posted by Juarez Jed

I'm with you chunterer.
If you want bigger grids, you will surely expect to get more also-rans than front-runners, particularly at the first GP of the year.
There is nothing to be ashamed of in getting out there and having a go, USF1 have set the new benchmark for how bad you have to be to be considered a failure.
If they fail so be it, but no need to cull them prematurely.
On a lap time per dollar spent ratio the new teams would all be at the top surely ?

I agree as well. For a very first day, it was a good effort.

I do worry for Karun, though. He has been set an impossible task.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

I love that there's small independent teams again. Just watching them finally firing up the car, followed by Bruno's cautious first few laps made me very happy, knowing the struggles they went through to get here. They've got a massive mountain to climb, but it will be good to see them slowly chipping away at it. Bruno did 17 laps in the second practice session, which is remarkably good for what really was the car's shakedown run.

[Matt]

I like the new section of track. While it may be slow, it has some great scenery.

[Matt]

Also, whats that little bit on the Lotus rear wing?

[broadrun96]

A hope and prayer of getting faster?

Couple other sites have it as an attempt to possibly clean the airflow across the middle of the wing and gain some downforce. The center 15 cm are a multiple wing free zone so worth a try for some of the newer teams.

[AussieTimmeh]

I never thought RBR would be in trouble but yesterday was a real concern. I hope today proves better.

[jab]

Got to feel for Karun. ANOTHER hydraulics issue, looks like he probably won't do the 3 laps he needs to participate in quali

Bruno leaving the pits now

[Sodemo]

Have those palm trees sprung up since last year? Don't remember them being there before.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by jab

Got to feel for Karun. ANOTHER hydraulics issue, looks like he probably won't do the 3 laps he needs to participate in quali

Yeah it's a shame, I hope they at least manage to give him an installation lap.

[el_cat]

Karuns car still in bits. If he makes it out, its not going to be for more than 3 slow laps just to get him in the show. Willing him and the team on, but not looking good

[el_cat]

On a positive note, Glock laps under 2mins and Senna gets within 10s of the pace.

[skells22]

now due to this 3 lap rule can someone tell me the qualfying routine as we have loss one due to no fault of the driver!

[RaiseYourFist]

Wow McLaren was almost 1s slower than Ferrari..... what a disappointment that dumb f-vent is. Looks like the car has awful mechanical grip

[jab]

Senna within 10 seconds of Alonso, now the equivalent of 7.377 seconds off pole in Australia (108.68%)

Glock also got to just over 5 seconds off despite only having 3 wheels, the equivalent of 3.78 seconds off in Oz (104.45%)

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Might as well prioritize Senna's car for now and get Chandhok's car properly ready for Australia. Senna sliced 2.967 seconds off his P2 time, so progress is being made.

[jab]

Well they have to. Chandhok won't be allowed to take part. Every driver has to do at least 3 practice laps before quali

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by skells22

now due to this 3 lap rule can someone tell me the qualfying routine as we have loss one due to no fault of the driver!

I think it means that they'll be six drivers getting an early bath after Q1 (plus Karun Chandhok, who effectively will be considered as "no time"), and seven after Q2, but please don't quote me on that.

[flor]

Originally Posted by jab

Well they have to. Chandhok won't be allowed to take part. Every driver has to do at least 3 practice laps before quali

no thats wrong, he can still participate if he does the laps during qualifying

[skells22]

please read Autosport as the answer is there on this issue (the web site)

[flor]

I read the rule book that should be enough