Formula 1 - 2013 Season

[jimbo75]

Yes, just like he lost his chance with 7th position at Melbourne.. oh wait

Anything can happen, and if Lotus can do 1 stop less I'd give Kimi at least as high chance as Rosberg, Vettel and Alonso for winning the GP, and friday practices long runs at least were really positive with Kimi doing a lot longer stint on the softer set without times dropping compared to anyone else

Stopping one time less didn't help them in Malaysia - the Adelaide victory was a 1-time result based on the other teams really having almost no clue about the tyres.

Rosberg has almost no chance of winning the grand prix so I'd agree that Kimi has about equal chance to him. Winning from so far back only happens if you have some big inherent advantage, ie tyres, much faster car or are maybe Alonso. Kimi will do well to make the podium from so far back - there are just too many fast cars ahead of him that he has to actually pass quite quickly in the race.

 

[itsmydamnation]

i think you guys are too pessimistic on kimi. the lotus has good straight line speed, there is a lot of straight here and turns 9/ 10 onto the straight are a big overtake opportunity. We will have to wait and see.

 

[jimbo75]

Problem is he has 2 Force India's that are very fast in a straight in front of him. I expect he'll pass them in the pits but by then he's probably going to be too far behind the leaders to catch up.

Of course anything can happen but I can't see him winning this one unless Vettel and Alonso take each other out.

 

[Lightman]

Problem is he has 2 Force India's that are very fast in a straight in front of him. I expect he'll pass them in the pits but by then he's probably going to be too far behind the leaders to catch up.

Of course anything can happen but I can't see him winning this one unless Vettel and Alonso take each other out.

I completely agree!
Lotuses are too far back to realistically win in a straight race as Force Indias, Ferraris and Red Bulls are all quick this weekend and ahead on on the grid.
They can and need to fight for good points, maybe even podium to stay in WDC hunt. Outsie chance for Kimi winning is perfectly timed Safety Car.
I still do believe Lotus has the quickest race car this weekend and we should see in a race when (if) they will be in clean air.

 

[jimbo75]

Wow some great racing here!

Rosberg a sitting duck I fear though.

 

[Kaotik]

Alonsos DRS broke and open all the time

edit: fixed at pits but possibly yields a penalty since it was open when it's now allowed to be

edit2: broke again

 

[Kaotik]

Not Ferrari's day today, that's for sure. 2 punctures, 2 extra stops for broken DRS and who knows what else will happen before the end

 

[AlphaWolf]

Not sure you can call that last one a puncture the tire seemed to just tear away from the side wall.

 

[Kaotik]

Be what it may, in both cases the tire was destroyed pretty much.

Looks like a repetition of last year with Vettel, Räikkönen and Grosjean on the podium

 

[Tahir2]

Good race, looks like Mercedes still have a lot of work to do.

 

[jimbo75]

Yep Ferrari didn't have their troubles to seek in that one. Good race though, shame Di Resta couldn't hold on for 3rd. Merc's race pace is awful. Good drive by Perez today as well, hopefully that'll be the start of his season.

 

[UniversalTruth]

Good race, looks like Mercedes still have a lot of work to do.

Everything depends on conditions. I bet that this race in the dirty desert offers the worst possible- in temperatures too.

In too cold (as in Australia) or too hot (as in the desert) which are the two extremes you can't expect Ferrari and Mercedes to cope in the best possible way for them.

I vote to throw this ugly race out of the season because there are multiple beautiful European venues which deserve the privilege much more.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

I vote to throw this ugly race out of the season because there are multiple beautiful European venues which deserve the privilege much more.

I'll veto that...

Great race with too many to count interesting battles on the track. Very bad day for Ferrari. Very good results by Kimi, Hamilton and Grosjean with Vettel smashing down the gauntlet big time.

edit: Perez was great too!

 

[Tahir2]

It's all about the money and if venues in Europe want to offer a venue Bernie's bank manager is more than happy to listen.
Not sure that this race is such an extreme - it may be more representative of the races going forward as the European races are held in summer. Ross Brawn commented this race would show the true pace of the Merc going forward and will better represent what level their car is.

So now we know - the Merc is extremely fast over a single lap and likes to eats tyres for breakfast, elevenses and lunch. Deja vu?

As to the dirty and ugly comments from you ... is that really a political comment?

 

[Tahir2]

Back to the race and Mercedes, this race Lewis manages his tyres better and Nico loses out despite being in front.

I wonder if these are setup issues as alluded to by LH after Friday free practise - that he wasn't sure of the direction the team was going in regards to the setup of the car for the race.
Perhaps this is something he has learnt and picked up on in McLaren and can help the team overcome the cars tendency to eat tyres.

If Ferrari did not have any issues this race could they have challenged Vettel's performance? We will never know unfortunately but some commentators think that Vettel and Red Bull were untouchable today.

 

[Tahir2]

I'll veto that...

Great race with too many to count interesting battles on the track. Very bad day for Ferrari. Very good results by Kimi, Hamilton and Grosjean with Vettel smashing down the gauntlet big time.

edit: Perez was great too!

Perez was great and I think Button closed the door on him unfairly a few times during some of the on track racing. I think it was a bad move by Button to fight Perez so much in my opinion as Perez was on fresher tyres and on a slightly different strategy. Not sure everyone will agree with that.

 

[Kaotik]

Back to the race and Mercedes, this race Lewis manages his tyres better and Nico loses out despite being in front.

I wonder if these are setup issues as alluded to by LH after Friday free practise - that he wasn't sure of the direction the team was going in regards to the setup of the car for the race.
Perhaps this is something he has learnt and picked up on in McLaren and can help the team overcome the cars tendency to eat tyres.

If Ferrari did not have any issues this race could they have challenged Vettel's performance? We will never know unfortunately but some commentators think that Vettel and Red Bull were untouchable today.

It was quite clear Nico killed his tires from fighting too aggressively for every position, had he just given up them with less fighting he could have possibly 3 stopped.

Unlikely that Ferrari would have been able to challenge Vettel here, Alonso would have been fighting Kimi or Grosjean for podium spot depending on tyre wear.

 

[UniversalTruth]

It's all about the money and if venues in Europe want to offer a venue Bernie's bank manager is more than happy to listen

It is very sad if money and not the value is the most important. Because for the European venues and their value- maybe the old one should pay them to allow his championship to take place there...

Not sure that this race is such an extreme - it may be more representative of the races going forward as the European races are held in summer

I guess only the races in Hungary (and probably Italy) can be close to this- I mean the heat. Neither UK, nor Germany, nor Belgium, nor the races in spring in Monaco or Spain will offer it...

As to the dirty and ugly comments from you ... is that really a political comment?

I have no idea what you mean because obviously the desert with this sand is not pretty

If Ferrari did not have any issues this race could they have challenged Vettel's performance?

It actually is Red Bull performace and has nothing to do with Vettel qualities because I think he lacks them... He is good only if the car is the best...
And no, I think Ferrari's pace wasn't optimal for the win

 

[Tahir2]

I have no idea what you mean because obviously the desert with this sand is not pretty

Don't go upsetting the locals mate.

More seriously - the Bahrain GP evangelist really helped bring in F1 to the Middle East and helped get the Abu Dhabi venue as well as the Moto GP in Qatar so it is pretty unlikely it will be dropped, at least in the near term.

It actually is Red Bull performace and has nothing to do with Vettel qualities because I think he lacks them... He is good only if the car is the best...
And no, I think Ferrari's pace wasn't optimal for the win

Wrong again, evidence? Mark Webber. It is Vettel's performance in the Red Bull that is the winning COMBINATION.

 

[UniversalTruth]

Bernie Ecclestone strikes again with 'stupid' remark in Bahrain

Mark Webber

He is a no-go. Just a middle class driver who has never had the talent or qualities to be representative of anything

And one more- Red Bull can intentionally build the car in order to fit more precisely their first driver as it was said by some others that it was impossible to drive with team-mate setups