Bahrain GP 2012 - Sakhir

[mx_tifoso]

All posts not related to the racing aspect will be moved to the "Bahrain situation" thread.

Warnings could be issued if not related to the RACING.

[spadeflush]

I ll bet a good amount on another Mercedes pole. McLaren will be strong in the race. Will have to wait and see how the W03 handles its tyres here, a podium for Michael will be well deserved.

[raymondu999]

Bahrain has a lot of straight line, so probably would be a good bet. I'd say a mechanically good car would do well here. Bit of a start stop circuit IMO, and really, other than 6-7 and turn 11, not much otherwise where peak downforce really helps. In 2010 it might've helped in the infield, but that's gone now! And now traction and braking are the name of the game.

[myurr]

I would tend to agree. I think Mercedes will do well in qualifying but will burn their tyres up in the race in the hotter temperatures. The circuit should suit McLaren as I think they have the best car mechanically, have a strong DRS system, and seem to have a good compromise between downforce and straight line speed for those faster sections. I think they'll be second only to Red Bull in the race with RB mainly having better tyre life with Vettel.

Ferrari are likely to struggle in the race, in my opinion. I think they'll overheat their rear tyres and get poor life out of them.

[myurr]

I should also add that McLaren will do something silly strategy wise and make it difficult for their drivers. That's pretty much a given

[blokkie]

I smell a Mercedes pole and a McLaren race win. Merc will get enormous benefit from their double DRS here, but I suspect the heat will ruin their tyres.

Well , after the race in China , BBC interviewed Ross Brawn and he said they found the "sweet spot frame " for the tiers to work. His goal was now to extend that "frame".
I think because they now actually found the ideal conditions for the tiers in china , they will push in the practice sessions to get them even better working , or longer lasting , or change setup so they are in the ideal window sooner.

Keeping this in mind , and if they can get it working and extending the ideal setup for the tiers ... I think it'll be a pole for MERC AMG and a very solid win for Shumi/Nico

Just my 0,5 cent

[raymondu999]

Yeah - I posted a video in the Chinese GP thread where he and Norbert are interviewed. He attributed his success with the tyres to the consistent track remps from Friday to Sunday.

Back on Bahrain: I hope the FIA don't do something stupid like put the DRS zone after turn 2 (where the cars get spread out by the T1/2 complex

[Mestrades]

It's a circuit that Michael loves: one win, one 2nd, one retire with Ferrari and one sixth position with MGP. There will not exist a big gap between Nico and Michael in Bahrain. Otherwise, I think that Mercedes has found the solution with the tyres and that they will be winner contenders for sure. For this reason I predict a 1-2 for Mercedes with Michael first this time if he has a little bit of luck with the kamikazes and his engineers.

Qualy: 1)Michael 2)Rosberg 3)Hamilton 4)Button 5)Kimmi
Race: 1)Michael 2)Rosberg 3) Hamilton 4)Button 5)Alonso

[rbr25]

Qualy: 1ºHamilton 2º Rosberg 3º Michael 4º Button 5º Grosjean 6º Perez 7º Kimi 8º Maldonado 9º Senna 10º Kobayashi

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Race: 1º Michael 2ºRosberg 3º Hamilton 4ºButton 5ºPerez 6º Maldonado 7º Senna 8º Kimi 9 Kobayashi 10 º Grosjean

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Massa And Alonso out top 10º

[ArchAngel]

Heart says Schu FTW. [-o< Mind says he'll be victim once again of another face-palm incident.

[raymondu999]

Its a front limited track, the front tyres take a hammering under breaking and turning into corners.

You need massive traction and braking for good laptimes. I'm inclined to call it rear limited. Fronts are hurt more by high speed cornering

[GrizzleBoy]

I dont think people should so readily put Mercedes infront of McLaren just yet.

Remember, Hamilton qualified second, splitting the two Mercs (but had to start 7th because of the gearbox issue) and Button came from fifth on the grid to being seriously close to battling Rosberg for the lead.

Merc showed 100% undeniable improvement, but without Hamilton being stripped of his direct position to fight for the lead and Button having the same done via a bad pit stop, would the Merc have looked AS dominant?

Would Nico have been able to treat his tyres as good with pressure from the Mclarens had they not been dumped behind slow traffic for whatever reason?

[FrukostScones]

No 2010 layout (shame), so no bump (turn 6).

2010 layout


Rosberg pole, and hopefully also a win but the heat could spice the things up a little bit.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

I think the layout this year for sure plays to Mercedes strengths. Lots of high speed, lots of DDRS during Quali. I say Merc grabs pole. If they can sort tyre wear for this hot of a circuit(50c) they'll win. If they sort the tyre wear for this race, I think they'll be a force for the rest of the year and it's on them to win or lose the Championship.
I think McLaren & Lotus will be strong here too obviously, but if Mercedes can get the tyre degradation to a managable state, it's theirs.

[foxmulder_ms]

I will have the same prediction I had for China, for this one, too: Mclaren guys will be 1st and 2nd in the race