2023 Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir, March 03 - 05

[AR3-GP]

Ferrari definitely could have battled there for pole but I think RB best weapon is tomorrow’s pace, just like last year. That’s why Ferrari felt the need to have the fresher tyres.

Both Perez and Verstappen told that the car is tilted towards Sunday so I think that bar anything crazy, a 1-2 or 1-3 is easily on the cards here.

So, all in all, RB slightly ahead of Ferrari and Alonso with the Mercs a quite distant third.

I still cannot believe that some people ( and pundits, although they were mostly marketing there) honestly believed that Alonso would challenge for pole or front row. There are no miracles in second-year regulations.

That being said, AM evolution is still impressive.

Give AM time. Unlike the big 3 teams, AM brought a 100% top to bottom brand new car. They need to learn it and optimize it for Alonso. AM is a team with a bigger upside than the others.

[Cs98]

So am i right to say all of top 7 have one new set of softs?

No, I think only Ferrari does. RBR used all their tires and so did everyone else but Charles.

RB have a set which did a warm-up lap but not a push lap.

[vanburin]

Toto said in f1tv interview post-race that he sees the race pace order as RB, then Alonso, then Ferrari and merc in the same ballpark

That would generally be in line with what we seduced from the long runs in practice as well.

RB is likely to run in the distance, but I'm really looking forward to the jockeying in the mid section. Can't wait for tomorrow!

[Sevach]

[dfegan358]

Really would be impressive tomorrow if alonso could bag a podium. Easy verstappen win though barring incidents though which is disappointing

[organic]

So am i right to say all of top 7 have one new set of softs?

No, I think only Ferrari does. RBR used all their tires and so did everyone else but Charles.

RB have a set which did a warm-up lap but not a push lap.

Good point. They scrubbed a set at end of q2 when they went out and didn't set a fast lap

[organic]

https://twitter.com/f1debrief/status/16 ... 79392?s=20

I would rather see telemetry of lec's lap vs verstappen when they set it on track at the same time. Ie verstappen's first lap vs lec's lap

[mzivtins]

Very refreshing to see a customer beat out the factory team, F1 needs a lot more of this

[Bill_Kar]

Ferrari definitely could have battled there for pole but I think RB best weapon is tomorrow’s pace, just like last year. That’s why Ferrari felt the need to have the fresher tyres.

Both Perez and Verstappen told that the car is tilted towards Sunday so I think that bar anything crazy, a 1-2 or 1-3 is easily on the cards here.

So, all in all, RB slightly ahead of Ferrari and Alonso with the Mercs a quite distant third.

I still cannot believe that some people ( and pundits, although they were mostly marketing there) honestly believed that Alonso would challenge for pole or front row. There are no miracles in second-year regulations.

That being said, AM evolution is still impressive.

Give AM time. Unlike the big 3 teams, AM brought a 100% top to bottom brand new car. They need to learn it and optimize it for Alonso. AM is a team with a bigger upside than the others.

Oh, of course! I am very happy because it stirs the pecking order and I like Alonso so yeah. We will see I guess, but as I said I was specifically talking about the first qualifying !

[mendis]

Ferrari definitely could have battled there for pole but I think RB best weapon is tomorrow’s pace, just like last year. That’s why Ferrari felt the need to have the fresher tyres.

Both Perez and Verstappen told that the car is tilted towards Sunday so I think that bar anything crazy, a 1-2 or 1-3 is easily on the cards here.

So, all in all, RB slightly ahead of Ferrari and Alonso with the Mercs a quite distant third.

I still cannot believe that some people ( and pundits, although they were mostly marketing there) honestly believed that Alonso would challenge for pole or front row. There are no miracles in second-year regulations.

That being said, AM evolution is still impressive.

Give AM time. Unlike the big 3 teams, AM brought a 100% top to bottom brand new car. They need to learn it and optimize it for Alonso. AM is a team with a bigger upside than the others.

They have more wind tunnel time than others! As Dan Fallows said before testing, the car is going to change 2/3rd with their development plans.

[AR3-GP]

Ferrari definitely could have battled there for pole but I think RB best weapon is tomorrow’s pace, just like last year. That’s why Ferrari felt the need to have the fresher tyres.

Both Perez and Verstappen told that the car is tilted towards Sunday so I think that bar anything crazy, a 1-2 or 1-3 is easily on the cards here.

So, all in all, RB slightly ahead of Ferrari and Alonso with the Mercs a quite distant third.

I still cannot believe that some people ( and pundits, although they were mostly marketing there) honestly believed that Alonso would challenge for pole or front row. There are no miracles in second-year regulations.

That being said, AM evolution is still impressive.

Give AM time. Unlike the big 3 teams, AM brought a 100% top to bottom brand new car. They need to learn it and optimize it for Alonso. AM is a team with a bigger upside than the others.

They have more wind tunnel time than others! As Dan Fallows said before testing, the car is going to change 2/3rd with their development plans.

This as well. The upside for AM, if Fallows and Alonso brings the A-game, is greater than that of the big 3 teams.

[Artur Craft]

It`s interesting that all top 6 drivers were saying they set up the car more towards the race, PER and HAM saying even their car was a handful in qualy.

AFAIR, Hamilton was P7, so not even on the top 6. Anyway, I just saw an interview with Alonso and the guy is radiant, probably very confident of his car´s race pace.

Given Ferrari´s clumsyness, I guess he could fight for the podium

edit: Just saw Lewis´interview and he´s not devastated either and hoping to have relatively better pace on the race

[AR3-GP]

It`s interesting that all top 6 drivers were saying they set up the car more towards the race, PER and HAM saying even their car was a handful in qualy.

AFAIR, Hamilton was P7, so not even on the top 6. Anyway, I just saw an interview with Alonso and the guy is radiant, probably very confident of his car´s race pace.

Given Ferrari´s clumsyness, I guess he could fight for the podium

edit: Just saw Lewis´interview and he´s not devastated either and hoping to have relatively better pace on the race

Everyone thinks the Ferraris will struggle with tire wear with the small wing. So basically AM and the Mercedes think that P3 is on the table (or better if the RBs make a turkey of it).

[organic]

Toto said they expect Alonso to be p3 once race pace plays out essentially.

Maybe Alonso can beat Perez and with some SC/VSC luck even max, who knows

[avantman]

What's the point of comparing 2nd run of Max with the 1st and only run of Charles. Incredible...and disappointing.