Bahrain GP 2009 - BIC

[ISLAMATRON]

(I understand they have to keep the same tyres they use in Q3 for the start of the race tomorrow: not just same type of tyres, but very same tyres; am I right?)

INCORRECT, but it would be an interesting rule if it existed.

[vasia]

Interesting Q2 times.

S. Vettel 32.4
Toyotas 32.6, 32.7
Five cars in the 32.8's

Given the Q3 times the Toyotas must be very light indeed with Ferrari intending on going deep.

Did Vettel and both Toyotas set those times on the same tires?

[WhiteBlue]

All were on the soft compound.
BMW have brought no new parts while McLaren had 20 new parts in Bahrain.
Red Bull/Vettel are indeed superior because they did the time with a conventional diffusor.
Vettel got the car nicely dialed in and Webber probably was fooled by the easy way Vettel made his times. He did not put a safety run in the bank and suffered the consequences. I believe that Vettel simply has a better understanding of the car and how to set it up. Bahrain is very difficult in that regard when you have not tested there. Webber isn't equally gifted and has a lot less milage in the car as well. I do not think that he will recover from this bad start of the season. Vettel will be the driver to watch at Red Bull.

[vasia]

all were on the soft compound

I'm not so sure how accurate the Q2 times are in this case. Are we to believe that McLaren and Renault are now as fast as Brawn, and Ferrari is only 2 tenths slower than Brawn? Something doesn't quite make sense with the Q2 times. Qualifying weights should clear things up a bit.

[ben_watkins]

all were on the soft compound

The option was the only tyre to set a good time in Quali..

The prime will be the best race tyre.

[WhiteBlue]

Hamiltons Q1/Q2 times show that they have made good progress.

[myurr]

all were on the soft compound

I'm not so sure how accurate the Q2 times are in this case. Are we to believe that McLaren and Renault are now as fast as Brawn, and Ferrari is only 2 tenths slower than Brawn? Something doesn't quite make sense with the Q2 times. Qualifying weights should clear things up a bit.

On low fuel, on this circuit, in these conditions - yes they are.

The Brawn has not been all that great on low fuel runs since the first race, their strength and current advantage is that their car handles heavier fuel loads more efficiently and as an added bonus they've probably got the best tyre management of any team.

McLaren have also seemed to be similar in this regard, with better race pace than qualifying pace, just not to the same extent. Over a GP distance I think Button is in with a good shout for the win, and Vettel is in very good shape if he is indeed heavier.

The Toyotas will be looking to pull out a solid lead on the super softs, pit early, and then hope to come back strongly in the final phase when others have tyre issues on their super softs.

McLaren are more difficult to place. Hamilton can threaten Button and possibly Vettel off the start, and whilst those cars should have the legs to get back past later on in the race if he gets that good a start he could threaten the Toyotas for race pace. Possibly.

Either way Hamilton should be looking to finish at least 5th, barring incidents etc.

[donskar]

Great job by Toyota -- I am glad to be proven wrong about them. I hope they can do well enough to stay in F1. (And for you pro-KERS members, wait until you see what Toyota has coming for its production cars!)

If I were running the team, I'd have Glock try to sprint out ahead while Trulli does his David Coulthard moving chicane act.

Williams: I know this is simplistic, but why is Nico so fast in practice, but so slow in qualifying? WHAT has happened to BMW?

Looks like McL are coming back; Ferrai still nowhere. The "Euro season" could be special.

[Jersey Tom]

Ferrari are nowhere? How do you figure? Look closely at the Q2 times between McLaren, Ferrari, and Brawn...

[dave34m]

Good luck getting Trulli to hand the race over to Glock when he has just won pole.

[NormanBates]

(I understand they have to keep the same tyres they use in Q3 for the start of the race tomorrow: not just same type of tyres, but very same tyres; am I right?)

INCORRECT, but it would be an interesting rule if it existed.

thanks for the clarification; clearly I didn't understand the parc fermé regulations (I have to admit I tried to read them, got utterly confused, then gave up)

when do they decide tyres and other settings, then? just before the race?

[ISLAMATRON]

(I understand they have to keep the same tyres they use in Q3 for the start of the race tomorrow: not just same type of tyres, but very same tyres; am I right?)

INCORRECT, but it would be an interesting rule if it existed.

thanks for the clarification; clearly I didn't understand the parc fermé regulations (I have to admit I tried to read them, got utterly confused, then gave up)

when do they decide tyres and other settings, then? just before the race?

All car settings are set from the end of qualifying with parc ferme rules but they can change the tires when sitting on the grid. Only thing they can change are the tire pressures I guess. unless they choose to start from the pit lane.

[Conceptual]

Great Quali!

I expect Vettel to get by the Toyo's early, and pit later, but the KERS may come into play HUGE at the start.

I can't wait to see the fuel loads, so I will wait to comment on pace until their release.

Does RBR have a KERS solution? For some reason I cannot remember...

Anyways, congrats to Trulli and Toyota. It was a very exciting qualifying!

[nudger]

curious as to why Renault told piquet to "save fuel" on his in lap after had failed to make it into Q3?

[ISLAMATRON]

curious as to why Renault told piquet to "save fuel" on his in lap after had failed to make it into Q3?

maybe so he didnt stop out on track, which could have heat soak problems. just an idea