Sakhir, Bahrain
Race Date: 14 Mar 2010
Number of Laps: 49
Circuit Length: 6.299 km
Race Distance: 308.405 km
Lap Record: 1:30.252 - M Schumacher (2004)
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Just a week to go before FP1! Some changes have been made to the circuit this year, that will increase the overall lap-time.

Does anyone think this revised circuit will lead to more overtaking?

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 16/03/2010 14:47 by tifosa.

bahrain does provide overtaking opportunities, so lets wait for the race before coming to any conclusion.

and Nando tips Redbull to have an edge at Bahrain...

"I think Red Bull were a little bit ahead at the last test,” said the Ferrari driver in an interview with Cadena SER radio.

“but Bahrain is an unusual track so it’s hard to bet on a winner”.

Massa arrives in Bahrain yesterday.

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first photos

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OK Folks, Heads up!!!,We are going to win this championship.
Fernando Alonso dixit

Nice pics koji

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So the gills appear to be back for Bahrain. Is cooling going to be an issue fo rthe F10?

Alonso will never be mistaken for Contador.

@ Koji,

great pics , the thread has come ALIVE!

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Bahrain Facts:

Ferrari have won 3 of 6 GPs held to date.

Reno has won 2 (by Alonso)

that's 5:1 advantage to Ferrari....lol

PS: The 1 remaining was taken last year, by someone who goes by the name..well, err, button, kinda

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And this is the place where Jenson and Lewis will wiggle their left knee and open the nitrus hole then go flying past you

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lol..

some more..chandock helmet,pedro get skinny..lotus
shows CNN,Renault lada,kubica on the desert
Sutil keeps on looking gay,seems like petrov has something tiny..chandok & senna helmets, pit lights and gilles are coming back

lots of small details to watch out & enjoy..

























































this one is awesome

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OK Folks, Heads up!!!,We are going to win this championship.
Fernando Alonso dixit



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/03/2010 19:55 by kojikabuto.

Quote:

SonnyT
So the gills appear to be back for Bahrain. Is cooling going to be an issue fo rthe F10?.

if thts the case, tracks in hot weather places, like bahrain etc., would pose problems for the reds.

Hi pals !

Nice to be here at the edge of new season again! How has it been doing folks ? New site here, took few minutes to find it... (maybe I´m blind)... let`s hope a good season despite Kimi`s not there. Let it GO !!!!!


-Jammuli-

we are doing fine jam

good to see you back.

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Today's press conference:

THURSDAY PRESS CONFERENCE

Reading through that, everyone seems relaxed but ready and you can sense the fire.

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Alain Prost will act as a steward throughout the Bahrain race weekend, as per news reports.

The governing FIA said late last year that permanent stewards will in 2010 “sit with experienced former F1 drivers” to “reach decisions very efficiently”.

Finally, some sense has set in FIA decisions.

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Any info on times? Live Timing not working at office!

fp 1 force india sutil p1 wow...

not working here too....

you can get more info on the bbc live text - Link

Sutil has topped the morning session with Nando, Kubica, Massa following......then comes Button, Hammi with Schumi at 10th.

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tks for the text link!

Interesting times indeed! Quali run for Sutil?

FP1 final standings

1 A.Sutil Force India 1.56.583 --- --- 18
2 F.Alonso Ferrari 1.56.766 +0.183 18
3 R.Kubica Renault 1.57.041 +0,458 19
4 F.Massa Ferrari 1.57.055 +0,472 19
5 J.Button McLaren 1.57.068 +0,485 19
6 L.Hamilton McLaren 1.57.163 +0,580 19
7 V.Liuzzi Force India 1.57.194 +0,611 19
8 N.Rosberg Mercedes 1.57.199 +0,616 15
9 M.Webber Red Bull 1.57.255 +0,672 17
10 M.Schumacher Mercedes 1.57.662 +1,079
11 J.Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1.57.722 +1,139 18
12 N.Hulkenberg Williams 1.57.894 +1,311 20
13 S.Vettel Red Bull 1.57.943 +1,360 17
14 S.Buemi Toro Rosso 1.58.399 +1,816 13
15 R.Barrichello Williams 1.58.782 +2,199 11
16 V.Petrov Renault 1.58.880 +2,297 13
17 P.De La Rosa Sauber 2.00.250 +3,667 18
18 K.Kobayashi Sauber 2.01.388 +4,805 11
19 T.Glock Lotus 2.03.680 +7,097 8
20 H.Kovalainen Lotus 2.03.848 +7,265 21
21 J.Trulli Virgin 2.03.970 +7,387 15
22 L.Di Grassi Virgin ------ ------ --- --- 2
23 B.Senna HRT ------ ------ --- --- 3
24 K.Chandhok HRT ------ ------ --- --- --- --- 0

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and yeah.. Alonso ahead of Massa doesnt look very good for him!!

Fernando Alonso takes his Ferrari top with a 1:56.909 with team-mate Felipe Massa fourth behind the two McLarens after a 1:57.191.

Looking good for us, and good for FI too....

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Sutil topped the session with 1:56:583 almost 0.2 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Alonso

Early days, but...

Yuss!

Force India on top!


(For those wondering, I can't post on our little sportsnetwork corner because the site was left abandoned...)




Cheers,
SdL

hi soluto,

long time no see....good going for FI.

i had written to kvasista on your forum.

hope the FI site is up again.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 09:53 by Jay.

FP2 in 20 minutes.

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Nice first FP1!!..this has just started



times fp1
1º 14 Adrian Sutil Force India 00:01'56''583
.2º 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 00:01'56''766 00:00'00''183
.3º 11 Robert Kubica Renault 00:01'57''041 00:00'00''458
.4º 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 00:01'57''055 00:00'00''472
.5º 1 Jenson Button McLaren 00:01'57''068 00:00'00''485
.6º 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 00:01'57''163 00:00'00''580
.7º 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India 00:01'57''194 00:00'00''611
.8º 4 Nico Rosberg MercedesGP 00:01'57''199 00:00'00''616
.9º 6 Mark Webber Red Bull 00:01'57''255 00:00'00''672
.10º 3 Michael Schumacher MercedesGP 00:01'57''662 00:00'01''079
.11º 17 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 00:01'57''722 00:00'01''139
.12º 10 Nico H�lkenberg Williams 00:01'57''894 00:00'01''311
.13º 5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 00:01'57''943 00:00'01''360
.14º 16 Sebastian Buemi Toro Rosso 00:01'58''399 00:00'01''816
.15º 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams 00:01'58''782 00:00'02''199
.16º 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 00:01'58''880 00:00'02''297
.17º 22 Pedro de la Rosa Sauber 00:02'00''250 00:00'03''667
.18º 23 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 00:02'01''388 00:00'04''805
.19º 24 Timo Glock Virgin Racing 00:02'03''680 00:00'07''097
.20º 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus Racing 00:02'03''848 00:00'07''265
.21º 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus Racing 00:02'03''970 00:00'07''387
.22º 20 Karun Chandhok HRT 00:01'99''999 00:00'43''416
.23º 21 Bruno Senna HRT 00:01'99''999 00:00'43''416
.24º 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin Racing 00:01'99''999 00:00'43''416

nando ahead massa,button ahead lewis,nico ahead the old fart

hispania racing has done just 3 instalation laps and already ahead virgin..& no pieces falling down..



a dream come true..

to follow fp2

[directos.lasexta.com]

[www.rtvv.es]

[www.elsesports.cat]

last link is the best one

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OK Folks, Heads up!!!,We are going to win this championship.
Fernando Alonso dixit



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 10:53 by kojikabuto.

Watch FP1 Highlights - BBC

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14:20


Schumacher is third fastest but nearly a second off Hamilton.

14:19


Rosberg is now fastest with a 1:55.555. Half a second faster than Hamilton and the first time Mercedes has stretched its muscles.

14:17


Tyre wear on heavy fuel loads is a serious concern in the hot weather in Bahrain this weekend. What we don't know about Hamilton's destroyed tyres is how many laps he had already put on them in the first session.

14:16


What's more he only has two sets of each compound to use during practice.

14:16


The softs are even more fragile.

14:16


That does not bode well, because he is on the hard tyres.

14:15


Hamilton reports that his rear tyres are destroyed after just four laps.

14:14


A bit of Trulli's Lotus has come off the back of the car on the main straight.

14:12


Button is fastest in the first sector but off Hamilton in the second and third sectors. A similar trend was set this morning.

14:12


Hamilton has now topped that with a 1:56.051. The fastest time today
[en.espnf1.com]

an interesting stuff from bbc, in fact, this was also observed during the testing at barcelona, that Ferrari have improved on slow turns, while mclaren have improved on straight lines...while, it was the opposite earlier.

BBC - An engineer from one of Ferrari's rivals did admit, though, that the red cars 'looked quick' - especially in the twisty stuff in the middle of the lap.

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BBC - Television replays are showing a series of cars 'bottoming-out' at Turn Six. That could be a problem for the teams during the race. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, is having his brakes changed after running wide.

Earlier Force India drivers too had reported the same

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Mclaren - Pit radio from Lewis said he has "destroyed" the rears of his set of hard tires after just 4 laps.

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@ neptune, thanks for that espn link

tyres will be quite a major impact this season.

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webber out of fp2, drive-shaft failure

ok, redbull seems having problems? vettel complaining of understeer.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 12:14 by Jay.

BBC Sport's Andrew Benson in Bahrain:

"There's an interesting twist to the McLaren rear wing/funnel argument. Some believe that the drivers actually have a role in making the system work. The rumour is that they can move their knees to block the airflow through the car to a degree, which would do something called 'stall' the rear wing - ie, make it work less well - thereby further increasing the car's straightline speed.

During the break between sessions, I spoke to a leading engineer from a rival team, who said that if that was true, the system was in his opinion 'definitely illegal', on the basis that the drivers' knees would be affecting the airflow over the car, and would therefore effectively be a movable aerodynamic device, which are banned.

Speculation is rife that one of McLaren's rivals may protest the car at the end of the race."

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Clearly ferrari is not showing his hand yet, its been fun practice

what is clear is the the 3 backmakers are in gp2 times therefore more than 10sec
off general pace..so moving chicanes as expected

more fun tomorrow :wink:

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OK Folks, Heads up!!!,We are going to win this championship.
Fernando Alonso dixit

Sector two - with a lot of the new track - is incredibly long, making up a minute of an average lap time this year.

and Ferrari is faster in this sector.

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It's Nico, Lewis, Michael and Jenson with Nico having a time of 1:55;409 - a Mercedes McLaren sandwich

Clearly ferrari is not showing his hand yet, its been fun practice



You hope.

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Wolf,
That was not a prediction - just the record of the 2nd free practice

I think Ferrari looks strong; the pace over the long runs is good.

Merc is looking a bit better and McC, I'm wondering about their tire issue.

Red Bull, I'd say we will know better tomorrow.

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If Macca are destroying rear tires in as little as 4 laps, there is a possibility that they would have a difficult time finishing the race. A car will have 3 prime and 3 option tires to complete quali and the race. Quali will surely destroy one set of tires, if not 2. That would leave a car with 4 tires, 2 prime and 2 option.

I would expect a car to circulate the majority of quali on prime (hard) tires and use the option tire for 2 stints, each of 2 quick laps. If they do that, they will be starting on option tires and will be pitting within the first 5-8 laps to switch back to the prime tire. So after 5 laps they could be on prime tires with 44 laps to go and only 1 prime set and 1 option set in reserve. They will have to get 18-22 laps out of each set of prime tires with the possibility of having to use the option tire for a final stint. That means at least 2, and maybe 3 stops to change tires.

This is why tire wear is so important. Even if a team can get 20 laps on a set of primes, the last 4-5 will be awful, and if they are forced to go to the option tire too soon, they may have to slow down just to get to the finish with tires in one piece.

Could it be a Sauber 1-2? Will Macca be in the top 5?

Would it be a good thing to start on presumably used soft tires on a full tank though for McC?

If hard tires are going off for McC in 4 laps, I cannot imagine that scenario for them to start the race on soft tires, even for 4-5 laps.

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Macca could have a big problem if it is the hard tire that goes off in 4-5 laps. Let's say they start on prime tires with 1 set of primes and 2 sets of options in reserve. If they are only going to get about 6 laps from the first set of primes and 10 laps from the second set (because the car is lighter than on the first stint). That will leave them 33 laps to run on 2 sets of softer option tires, about 15 laps and 19 laps as the car burns off fuel. A 3 stop strategy and a lot of crossed fingers.

It is clear why teams are saying that tire wear is going to be the key factor.

Just as I have stated many times before on many different threads!

It is the "Balance" of the race car and the ability to preserve the tires that will allow for the highest possible average pace and will win the race! Ferrari and Mercedes seem to be very good at this. Mclaren seems like the rabbit! I have always thought the extreme design of the McLaren may lead to balance issues. They seem to be surfacing now. The one thing the test has now shown the teams is how the tires degrade and wear given a certain load rate. I say the fight will be between Ferrari & Mercedes this weekend.

Forza Ferrari!!!!

@SonnyT, It is not really clear how much mileage was already[u][/u] done on those tyres in FP1 (there is no doubt they were scrubs). In FP2, they got shred in 4 laps.. so we do not yet know whats their full life.
Add in the 2 set tyre limit for the 3 practice session

The team with the best package - engine reliability, speed (not necessarily the fastest), fuel economy and being easier on the tyres - will win the race. All the top teams have very good drivers, so I'm not including that factor.

Thomo, what else remains you have covered almost every aspect! haha!

LOL, i guess what thomo is saying he is not comparing the driver aspect, may be!

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When you talk of a PACKAGE you have to cover all the factors.
This year because of the refuelling ban, fuel economy is a major factor - it was not such a big factor earlier. Similarly, with a potential double the weight of fuel, the tyres are much more of a factor than ever before.
That is why I say that the BEST PACKAGE, not the FASTEST car, will be the winner.

Yes, Fast lap times, Easy on Tires and Good on gas! That is the winner!

Forza Ferrari!!!!

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed bits keep falling off the Lotus?

The mirror fell out?

Something else fell off.

The nose has fallen off in the past.

And it is Mercedes!

Silver Arrows!

HRT has had something pop off too (wheel nut?) at the end of fp2.

One of the drivers, the protection for the drivers in the monocoque for side impact, wanted to break loose from the car! Can't remember whom.

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Too early to know who is the fastest at this time!

Too early to know who is going to win!

Forza Ferrari!!!!

it was the turn 6 that was responsible for things coming off from many cars.

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