Poll: Official 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Thread - Sakhir Circuit - Race 1/23

[Stumble Bum]

Apparently Drugovich wasn’t told and believed he would be racing this weekend until he saw the announcement at the same time as everyone else.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1631316770135977984

 

[chrismscotland]

I thought RB were using their own engine this season?

Nope, only from 2026 on (in conjunction with Ford).

Still effectively with Honda until then, they still make and maintain the engines.

 

[el_dazza]

Woooooo, we are back

Where did the winter go?! I see another year of RB dominance mixed with a few surprises from the green army, maybe even this weekend!

 

[Scam]

Everyone talking up Aston then? I'm not feeling it with Stroll and Alonso. Stroll is probably better than he gets credit for but I don't think he's top-tier? Alonso has had a few good races for himself the last couple of years but that was more to prove a point and annoy Hamilton and others. I don't see him being able to thrive under real pressure for a podium if it came to it, I think he's lost that edge. But what do I know. I guess they're just out to beat Mclaren?

 

[SDK^]

Have Sky updated the session times yet?

 

[GravyMonster]

Yep

 

[Goksly]

11:30 according to motorsport. Can't help but see a RB walk over. Merc are going to struggle if they abandon this concept.

 

[antijoke]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1631588539015086080

 

[Mr Jack]

I guess they're just out to beat Mclaren?

Right now, beating McLaren seems like a really low bar. Aston will be hoping for good points, McLaren will be hoping they can beat more than one other team.

 

[XeNoN89]

If redbull are far ahead again I suspect I'll be watching even less F1 than last year which was probably the least I've watched it since really getting into it in 2007

 

[el_dazza]

Nearest challenger is 2.1s behind the red bulls currently but highly unlikely that's true pace from everyone.

 

[SDK^]

Nearest challenger is 2.1s behind the red bulls currently but highly unlikely that's true pace from everyone.

They were lapping in the mid 1:30's during testing, so the Red Bull is still 2 seconds slower than that.

 

[Mr Jack]

They were lapping in the mid 1:30's during testing, so the Red Bull is still 2 seconds slower than that.

The fastest times in testing were set in the evening and on softer tyres than they have for the race weekend. We won't see times that fast until Quali, I think.

Sainz slowest! OMG, Ferrari fail

 

[el_dazza]

Don't think we can take a lot from that session really. Fully expecting Locky and Scam to declare RB world champions and that Mercedes won't win anything after that session.

 

[Jono8]

The Aston does look potentially quite good. However, if it is, I expect the Merc to be even better.

It would be crazy if Merc get beaten by one of the teams they supply engines to.

 

[JRS]

Lando needing soft tyres to just squeak ahead of Leclerc on mediums.

That McLaren is garbage

 

[Mr Jack]

*snip*

Hamilton has now been granted an exemption for his nose studs.

 

[Scam]

Fully expecting Locky and Scam to declare RB world champions and that Mercedes won't win anything after that session

I missed the session, work got in the way. Will try for the 3pm but as everyone says none of this is really demonstrative of real pace.

 

[413x]

If redbull are far ahead again I suspect I'll be watching even less F1 than last year which was probably the least I've watched it since really getting into it in 2007

I find highlights on c4 a good f1 commitment.
It makes even the boring races seem much better as you cut out most of the boring bits.

Also, any stoppages are effectively 0 time.

No way would I sit through 3 hours of f1 on a sunny Sunday anymore.

YouTube highlights are too short though. And it's a shame c4 feed is so much later.


Wouldn't mind watching first race live though as finally get to see true pace. And there's a lot to catch up on

 

[413x]

I'm concerned by alpine pace. I know it's reported they are holding back on quali type runs, but im not convinced