2023 Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir, March 03 - 05

[ferkan]

People are forgetting that RB and Merc were heavily overweight last year in Bahrain (3-4 tenths worth of time overweight)

[AR3-GP]

People are forgetting that RB and Merc were heavily overweight last year in Bahrain (3-4 tenths worth of time overweight)

It's a good point. It does suggest that Ferrari and Aston Martin are the two who made the biggest aerodynamic improvement.

[chrisc90]

This should be individual drivers gap to pole difference to last year.

[harty71]

I don't think the Mercs Q3 is fully representive, they seemed to have a right cocked up strategy, doesn't seem like things have improved with the leaving of Vowles.

They always do silly things like that, one driver was safely within delta but they send them both out to do another lap, it's all about equality you see.

[Bill]

Bahrain is a power track Am should be closer at other tracks.

[organic]

Bahrain is a power track Am should be closer at other tracks.

They seem to not be as efficient as Ferrari or RB based on the telemetry and top speed data, whilst also being good on the brakes. These are characteristics that the f1-75 had relative to the RB18, so tracks where Ferrari were good last year should favour Aston martin

Austria for instance is shaping up as a very good opportunity for them, especially if they can develop to be a bit closer to RB by then.

[AR3-GP]

I don't think the Mercs Q3 is fully representive, they seemed to have a right cocked up strategy, doesn't seem like things have improved with the leaving of Vowles.

They always do silly things like that, one driver was safely within delta but they send them both out to do another lap, it's all about equality you see.

What's the point of "equality" when the one driver earned the right to not have to use extra tires?

I think Merc genuinely didn't think they were safe and can you imagine if Hamilton had been knocked out when Russell went through? That would have been a warm debrief

[avantman]

People are forgetting that RB and Merc were heavily overweight last year in Bahrain (3-4 tenths worth of time overweight)

yes, there were some mad reports the RB had 20 plus kilos overweight. Horner talking on TP press conference said, "we ran with up to 10 extra kilos sometimes last year", which is as you said 0,3-0,4 at most around there.

[Bill]

Bahrain is a power track Am should be closer at other tracks.

They seem to not be as efficient as Ferrari or RB based on the telemetry and top speed data, whilst also being good on the brakes. These are characteristics that the f1-75 had relative to the RB18, so tracks where Ferrari were good last year should favour Aston martin

Austria for instance is shaping up as a very good opportunity for them, especially if they can develop to be a bit closer to RB by then.

i think the merc pu is still lacking

[harty71]

I don't think the Mercs Q3 is fully representive, they seemed to have a right cocked up strategy, doesn't seem like things have improved with the leaving of Vowles.

They always do silly things like that, one driver was safely within delta but they send them both out to do another lap, it's all about equality you see.

What's the point of "equality" when the one driver earned the right to not have to use extra tires?

I think Merc genuinely didn't think they were safe and can you imagine if Hamilton had been knocked out when Russell went through? That would have been a warm debrief

Probably, it's not as though there was a massive difference between the pair. Russell has really surprised me today, given the car he is more than capable of winning a world title against the most successful driver of all time. What has surprised me most is the lads race pace, more than a match for Hamilton in that department.

[f1jcw]

I don't think the Mercs Q3 is fully representive, they seemed to have a right cocked up strategy, doesn't seem like things have improved with the leaving of Vowles.

They always do silly things like that, one driver was safely within delta but they send them both out to do another lap, it's all about equality you see.

What's the point of "equality" when the one driver earned the right to not have to use extra tires?

I think Merc genuinely didn't think they were safe and can you imagine if Hamilton had been knocked out when Russell went through? That would have been a warm debrief

What was the point of doing a run kater then everyone else and only having time for one run.
If they didn't have enough tyres why not a run on used then a run on new

If as Toto said, they both made no mistakes then, they was stuffed.

[organic]

Watching the interviews postqualifying it seems that all Merc, Ferrari and RB found more performance going into qualifying than they expected. Charles said he did not understand. Max said he did not understand why the car didn't work except for Q2 onwards.

Seems with lack of understanding even RB who are evolving their car the most can slip up and that gives opportunity for someone like Alonso for a race weekend or three this year to win, even if they never have the outright quickest car

[ChrisF1]

It'll be an interesting Turn 1, what with Lewis and Fernando typically being the best starters, and Max not traditionally being the quickest.

[search]

The AmuS article about Red Bull says that they initially planed to safe two new sets of softs for the race. Sounds like they didn't expect so much competition - in the end they needed all 5 instead to take the pole (although one of them only because of the red flag)

[Sevach]

Verstappen is first run of Q3.