2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by koinek » 01 Apr 2008, 16:33

HamiltonF1 wrote: but you wont see many crashes there is so much space :sad:
But the space means more overtaking. Also the warm air means that the teams will be working hard to conserve the cars.

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by phil1993 » 01 Apr 2008, 17:59

koinek wrote:
HamiltonF1 wrote: but you wont see many crashes there is so much space :sad:
But the space means more overtaking. Also the warm air means that the teams will be working hard to conserve the cars.
not necessarily, the track is not that wide, just the run off areas. the high kerbs also mean drivers arent particularly keen to run wide over them. most of the turns are fast, therefore harder to overtake.

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by JoostLamers » 01 Apr 2008, 21:33

last few years here in Bahrein, the only ones who were making it worth racing were De La Rosa and Rosberg, but only them, so I don't see why it would be a race like the seasonopener, but I'm hoping it will :pray:
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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by NFSF1 BMW S10 » 02 Apr 2008, 10:38

Can Ferrari hold on to their performance at Malaysia?
Yes, they can. But not Felipe.

Can Massa finally get a good result?
I think he can. But not this time.

What role is BMW Sauber going to play?
Hmmm mayby they will be on 4-6 place?

Will there be rain?
I don't think so.

Who crash into the barriers again?
Red Bull? ''hmm''

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by iceman1 » 02 Apr 2008, 11:07

New Aero for Ferrari in Bahrain
Ferrari technical director Aldo Costa has confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will both benefit from some new parts this coming weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Maranello-based outfit has not been resting on its laurels since Kimi's victory at Sepang and last Saturday, tester Marc Gene conducted a brief test at Vairano and evaluated the aerodynamic updates.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's event, the third round in the 2008 FIA F1 World Championship, Costa added that they will be introducing new bits for the F2008 at every event this season, in a bid to ensure they retain both the drivers' and manufacturers' crowns.

"The plan for this year is that we should have continuous updates throughout the season," he confirmed. "We aim to improve the package step by step with changes coming for almost every race and in Bahrain we will run some new aero parts.

"We will continue to keep a close eye on reliability too, especially on the engine side and on this front, at the moment, we will probably run Massa with the same engine he used in Malaysia two weeks ago, even though we could change it, as he failed to finish that race."
Full story

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by AzShadow » 02 Apr 2008, 17:16

[u][url=http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080402085825.shtml]http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080402085825.shtml[/url][/u] wrote: Bahrain pits is McLaren penalty

McLaren's demotion to the bottom of the pitlane pecking order in Bahrain is an unofficial sanction by the governing body, a major German newspaper claims.

It emerged last week that, despite settling into the fifth allocation of garages at the opening two races of 2008, the Mercedes-powered team would be relocated to the farthest end of the pits for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

McLaren's higher pitlane residence in Australia and Malaysia was the result of a deal with F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone, despite the team's exclusion from the 2007 constructors' championship.

But because the garage allocations are ultimately governed by FIA regulations, and not the commercial rights holder, the Paris body led by President Max Mosley has the final say about how the teams line up at races.

Ecclestone had agreed to the reprieve so that one of F1's two title contenders can still have access to the highest level of facilities at all the circuits this year.

At modern venues like Malaysia and Bahrain, the lower garage allocations still afford top class facilities that are comparable to the teams at the premier end of pitlane.

But at some of the later rounds, including at Barcelona, Silverstone and Brazil, McLaren will be potentially disadvantaged if the FIA has not agreed to let McLaren return to the business end of the paddock.

Some observers predict that, for example, McLaren will struggle to fit its huge 'Communications Centre' into the smaller paddock allocations at European rounds.

Bild claims that the FIA's annulment of the McLaren-Ecclestone concession is related to the governing body's understanding that - at the end of the 'spygate' scandal - Ron Dennis would be stepping down as team boss in 2008.

The Briton reportedly came close to quitting before the start of the season, but at the last minute turned up in Australia and even held aloft the winning constructors' trophy on the Albert Park podium.

Bild claims that the FIA is 'frustrated' with Dennis' position, and regards his Melbourne podium antics as 'provocation'.

'This is the result,' the newspaper said, referring to the pitlane demotion.
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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by Sanredrose » 02 Apr 2008, 18:41

Mosley has his own set of problems to solve right now. I think he should better look at that !!

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by iceman1 » 02 Apr 2008, 21:22

McLaren should have been at the far end of the pits from the start of the season as that is where the rules say they should be due to their constructor standing at the end of last year.

Bild claims that the FIA's annulment of the McLaren-Ecclestone concession is related to the governing body's understanding that - at the end of the 'spygate' scandal - Ron Dennis would be stepping down as team boss in 2008.

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by mack83 » 02 Apr 2008, 23:19

iceman1 wrote:McLaren should have been at the far end of the pits from the start of the season as that is where the rules say they should be due to their constructor standing at the end of last year.
I must agree on this one and I am Mclaren fan btw.

anyway, i hope that Mclaren will be a lot closer to Ferrari in Bahrain.

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by iceman1 » 03 Apr 2008, 09:50

On paper, Bahrain should be an easy win for Ferrari. The team have usually been strong here, with victories in 2004 and 2007, and the slimmest of defeats in 2006 (to a seriously inspired Fernando Alonso).

Plus the F2008 seems to have a decisive edge in performance over the McLaren MP4-23s

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by McLaren-F1 » 03 Apr 2008, 12:12

we'll see who will win, F2008 isn't better than Mp4-23 we can't make conclusion with this 2 races and in Bahrain too i think we'll understand better in Spain who is faster.. :thumbsup:
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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by Zonked » 03 Apr 2008, 13:18

http://www4.0zz0.com/2008/03/05/12/835921558.jpg


a new banknote from bahrain for the gp..........

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by McLaren-Mercedes » 04 Apr 2008, 08:47

Hm, nothing special happened in the 1st practice session.
Ferrari seem to have the fastest car, but I still hope that McLaren can improve. Rosberg did also a good job to finish 3rd and Heidfeld is in the midfield, as always on friday in this season.
Now I'm hoping for a more exciting 2nd practice session. The 1st was quite boring in my opinion :sad:

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by Lilellatho » 04 Apr 2008, 08:57

Yay, the F1 weekend has begun! !yahoo:

Here are the final times for FP1:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:32.233 20
2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:32.350 + 0.117 15
3. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:32.415 + 0.182 23
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:32.705 + 0.472 21
5. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:32.868 + 0.635 20
6. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:33.121 + 0.888 24
7. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:33.333 + 1.100 16
8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:33.539 + 1.306 27
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.788 + 1.555 20
10. Alonso Renault (B) 1:33.815 + 1.582 19
11. Glock Toyota (B) 1:33.929 + 1.696 28
12. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.950 + 1.717 20
13. Piquet Renault (B) 1:33.981 + 1.748 24
14. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:34.106 + 1.873 17
15. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:34.235 + 2.002 27
16. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:34.321 + 2.088 32
17. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:34.892 + 2.659 20
18. Button Honda (B) 1:34.915 + 2.682 16
19. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:35.174 + 2.941 12
20. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:35.429 + 3.196 22
21. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:36.145 + 3.912 6
22. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:36.536 + 4.303 6

More info from Autosport:
Massa quickest in practice 1 - Bahrain

By Matt Beer Friday, April 4th 2008, 08:30 GMT


Felipe Massa led teammate Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari one-two in the first free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Williams' Nico Rosberg took third with a late qualifying-style run, ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.

The leading teams stayed in the pits for the first 35 minutes to allow others to clean the dusty track. Massa was the first major contender to set a time, and his 1:33.047 immediately outpaced early benchmark Jarno Trulli (Toyota) by half a second.

The Brazilian was swiftly beaten by Hamilton's 1:32.705, but both Ferraris stayed out and returned to the top later in their long runs. Massa regained first position with a 1:32.400, and although he was briefly usurped by teammate Raikkonen's 1:32.356, the Brazilian then produced a 1:32.233 to reclaim the top spot.

Raikkonen had to curtail his first run after sliding off the road at the final corner. The world champion took a detour across the very dusty run-off and had to pit to check for damage and for the accumulated dust to be cleaned out.

Unusually, the leading teams did not improve on their times on their subsequent outings, with Massa and Raikkonen staying first and second throughout the final 40 minutes.

The only change amongst the top five was Rosberg's late jump to third with a 1:32.415 lap. His teammate Kazuki Nakajima took sixth on the softer Bridgestones, behind Hamilton and Kovalainen.

Robert Kubica had been fifth for BMW for most of the morning, but was pushed back to seventh when the Williams duo vaulted up the order.

Trulli, Red Bull's David Coulthard and Renault driver Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.
The Ferraris again looking quite good...But I do expect the Macs and BMWs to get closer as they work on set-up.

Good job for Williams, esp. for Rosberg, that was a great lap :thumbsup:

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Re: 2008 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Post by AzShadow » 04 Apr 2008, 12:42

I only watched the last 10 mins of the 2nd practice. But I guess they were the most eventful as Hamilton had a weird shunt and it occured somewhat similarly as with Massa in Malaysian GP (riding through a kerb and just losing the control). Then Alonso had his funny clash with Force India. %Biggrin He must be feeling very frustrated with his car.

FP2:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:31.420 30
2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:32.327 + 0.907 30
3. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:32.752 + 1.332 30
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:32.847 + 1.427 26
5. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:32.915 + 1.495 29
6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:33.022 + 1.602 34
7. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.048 + 1.628 27
8. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:33.098 + 1.678 33
9. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:33.197 + 1.777 37
10. Piquet Renault (B) 1:33.247 + 1.827 37
11. Button Honda (B) 1:33.710 + 2.290 33
12. Alonso Renault (B) 1:33.755 + 2.335 26
13. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.782 + 2.362 34
14. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:33.822 + 2.402 38
15. Glock Toyota (B) 1:33.856 + 2.436 30
16. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:33.966 + 2.546 35
17. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:34.023 + 2.603 36
18. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:34.388 + 2.968 35
19. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:34.405 + 2.985 34
20. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:34.787 + 3.367 30
21. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:35.288 + 3.868 24
22. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:35.712 + 4.292 25

Looks like Massa was the only one doing qualifying so far. I remember Ferrari doing something like 1:30 during testing, though, so I wonder how fast they'll go on Saturday.
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