Bahrain GP 2012 - Sakhir

[ArchAngel]

FP2 should be more indicative of where the teams are performance-wise in this track. I doubt whether any team was already trying to do too much setup-wise, given how dusty the track was this morning.

[ferndal]

Also the Mercs aren't looking as quick. Is this because they are running a race simulation I wonder.

Looked like they were struggling for grip and balance, could be chewing their tyres. They looked okayish over a lap on new tyres though. Not as hooked up at the moment as they were in China.

Also Brawn said Merc never knew last Friday where they were standing either - It was only when they ran the simulations right through the bight into Saturday that they had something to work with. So they using this Friday as inputs for their simulation.

[myurr]

FP2 seems a lot more slippery than FP1. Button and Hamilton looked like they were on used tyres from the first session. Hamilton flat spotted his front right so whilst he was competitive over two sectors he didn't set a time.

[WhiteBlue]

So far Vettel is setting the pace in FP2. Hamilton isn't happy with his setup and wants to go back to FP1 setup.

[WhiteBlue]

Vettel now on options. But he is only one tenth faster than on the prime.

[WhiteBlue]

Rosberg does it better 7 tenth better on options.
Vettel can't improve on his second lap on options.
Weber 2.5 tenth better than Vettel on P2

[myurr]

Wonder if Vettel is trying a different tack. Sacrificing a little race pace in order to move up the field in qualifying and gain track position. His car seems a lot better balanced than in recent races and he has a clear advantage over Webber for the first time this year.

The Mercedes are first to do their low fuel soft tyre runs and look pretty quick. First times in the 1:32's this weekend.

Edit: Didn't notice vettel had been the first on the options. Took too darned long writing my post and got beaten to it!

[WhiteBlue]

Kimi is nowhere on options. The rear is stepping out and he stays P17.
Alonso overdrives the car in his second lap on options but gets up to P6.
Ferrari wants to do more quali runs.

[myurr]

Webber set a much better time on the options than Vettel. Very inconsistent times across the pit lane, almost like the cars aren't reacting to set up changes as expected.

[Maelstrom]

The HRT's might not qualify within the 107% if what the timings show carries forward to qualifying.

[WhiteBlue]

Michael's first lap on options starts with a pink first sector but he has traffic by Kovalainen.

[WhiteBlue]

Webber set a much better time on the options than Vettel.

0.25s to be exact. Looks like the situation hasn't changed in the last two races. Weber handles the outward blowing exhaust better in qualifying trim.

[WhiteBlue]

Webber gets driving tips from his race engineer for turn 9/10. He is supposed to turn in later into T9.

[myurr]

Hamilton goes a lot quicker than he had been with his reverted setup, good pace considering how worn the tyres are.

[myurr]

Button's option run is 1.4s off the pace. He's not happy with that car atm.