Poll: Bahrain Grand Prix 2022 - Race 1

[Mr Jack]

First race of the season! Are we excited, folks?





For those without Sky:

Channel 4 qualifying highlights 7:30 Saturday
Race also 7:30

(@Shimmy indicated that he didn't want to continue making these threads so I've made this one, I don't intend to replace Shimmy in doing this every time and I'm also nowhere near as enthusiastic about adding detail)

 

[Mr Jack]

Good news for Dani Ric as he's been cleared to race but I admit to a tinge of disappointment that we won't be seeing Piastri standing in for him.

 

[Mr Jack]

Predictions?

Max, Leclerc, Lewis on the podium in that order. Red Bull have the best car, but Pérez will struggle to make the most of it, and Ferarri aren't far behind. Merc look to be some way back but I think Lewis will still manage to drag it up the order. Russell will impress in Quali but fall behind his more experienced teammate in the race. Both Haas drivers will score points.

 

[Mr Jack]

Seb has tested positive and will be replaced by Hülkenberg! Get well soon, Seb.

 

[Mr Jack]

Hopefully he'll be OK and will be fit for Saudi.

What are the rules F1 is using this year, is it just local rules? I would have thought if he's tested positive today, his chances of being cleared to fly are slim.

 

[Mr Jack]

New graphics taking up yet more of the screen.

Those look good, IMO, and nice to see the tyre on the graphic but I'll reserve judgement until we see them during the races. It'd be nice if F1 adopted the thing from e.g. Formula E where they show the grouping of the cars by moving them nearer and further apart rather than using even spacing. Weird time for graphic designers as simultaneously TVs get bigger and more and more people watch stuff on small mobile screens. It's a difficult compromise.

 

[Mr Jack]

Just spotted this in the Event Notes:

19) Track Limits
In accordance with the provisions of Article 33.3, the white lines define the track edges.​

Are we actually going to see an end to this garbage of only monitoring track limits in particular places and being fine with drivers going off track elsewhere?

 

[Mr Jack]

I dunno just looked like it exploded, over pressure in the side pod?

Judging by this picture of what is underneath:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1504792860826411015

I would guess it was a manufacturing defect rather than anything more fundamental.

 

[Mr Jack]

They seem to still be running those side skirt stays, did they change the rules to allow them, or have they found some loophole?

 

[Mr Jack]

Stays were on the car at the last test.

Yes, but it was being said that they were not legal. That could have been wrong.

Yeah the weight limit was upped a little 3kg was it? Alfa Romeo is said to be the only car at the weight limit. It was also said 10kg in weight was worth 0.35-0.4s a lap.

Do we know why they are struggling with weight limits this year?

 

[Mr Jack]

Weight limit was deliberately set very very tight.

Aye, but it's up quite a bit on last season, what's new that is pushing the weight up? Is it just the new tyres being heavier?

 

[Mr Jack]

Engine problem for Bottas apparently. Ugh, he didn't need that.

 

[Mr Jack]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-regulations-tweaked-to-allow-floor-stays-heavier-cars/9104230/

Thanks

 

[Mr Jack]

Not a chance, no higher than 4th, don’t know what your watching as both cars look close to un-driveable

They already look 3rd or 4th fastest on both long and short run pace (ya ya practice ya ya) and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they can get on top of that car and return to the front over the next few races. The car that really seems to be struggling is McLaren, who looked so good in Barcelona. Haas look to be up in the midfield, and Alpine are looking surprisingly good today.

 

[Mr Jack]

Yeah but be realistic, Verstappen is going to win this one by a mile,

Why are you writing off Leclerc?

 

[Mr Jack]

Yeah good question, I can't see him and the ferrari beating Verstappen.

Looks to me like the Red Bull is faster on the softs and will take pole, but the Ferrari is better on long runs. I think it'll be interesting.

We'll find out soon

 

[Mr Jack]

To me Verstappen has looked on rails

He does look good.

 

[Mr Jack]

Anyone else disappointed that despite these new cars we're getting three DRS zones. I was hoping to see the back of DRS this season but it doesn't look like they're going to try.

 

[Mr Jack]

We don't know the aero stuff works as intended yet.

And we won't find out if they've got three DRS zones to use. They should - at the very least - reduce the number of DRS zones and see what happens.

ONLY when it is proven the aero changes do the same thing.

The best time to get rid of DRS was before it was introduced; the second best time is now.

 

[Mr Jack]

As someone pointed out they are far short of the 1:31s from yesterday

Conditions are quite different though, more blustery and much warmer. I wouldn't expect the cars to go as fast as they did last night. They'll go much quicker in Quali.