The Official 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
confucuis said:
Given that Ferrari were 1.1 seconds off Merc last week, where did this time come from? Vettels only 4 tenths off Hamilton, does the circuit suit Ferrari or something? Don't get me wrong I'm delighted so see Vettel that close I just don't understand why Ferrari are so close!
Hot track helps. Apparently they have trouble getting sustained performance from the tyres at cooler tracks.confucuis said:
Given that Ferrari were 1.1 seconds off Merc last week, where did this time come from? Vettels only 4 tenths off Hamilton, does the circuit suit Ferrari or something? Don't get me wrong I'm delighted so see Vettel that close I just don't understand why Ferrari are so close!
There were reports that Ferrari had put a new engine in the car for this weekend. Possibly with some token upgrades.ETA: Track temps were much cooler, certainly than Malaysia or even China(?) so it doesn't explain the performance. The SF15-T is not a one trick pony.
VolvoT5 said:
Blayney said:
Nico is quickly becoming the de facto number 2 in Mercedes
Have to feel a bit sorry for Nico... with that team since 2010 waiting for the team to develop /helping the team, basically being the no.1 driver. Then in 2013 Hamilton rocks up the year before the team hit the jackpot with the rule changes. Nico has one half chance at winning the WDC and now he is pretty much relegated to no.2 status.
Rosberg with 8 career wins, pretty shocking when you think how dominant that car is and much less than the other older top tier / current no.2 drivers.... Button (15)/Webber(9)/Massa(11)/Raikkonen(20)/ etc.
Edited by VolvoT5 on Saturday 18th April 17:25
As for feeling sorry, multi millionaire gets payed shed loads to live the dream and still whines like a bh when he's not as good as some of the others? You'll have to show me your dictionary it obviously differs from mine.
On the topic of which, WTF was he blabbering on about after qualli? tactics/race thought ended with Q2. Q3 was all about raw speed. he didn't have it. And thats the beginning middle & end of it.
hairyben said:
No moreso than colthard getting whopped by hakkinen, or webbar being treated badly by vettel, the sport is littered with fine drivers who coulda been (perhaps multiple) WDC's but for annoyingly handy team mates.
As for feeling sorry, multi millionaire gets payed shed loads to live the dream and still whines like a bh when he's not as good as some of the others? You'll have to show me your dictionary it obviously differs from mine.
On the topic of which, WTF was he blabbering on about after qualli? tactics/race thought ended with Q2. Q3 was all about raw speed. he didn't have it. And thats the beginning middle & end of it.
Meh, I guess I feel sorry for him because he appears to be mentally unraveling. As you say Q3 is about pure pace but he is waffling on about tactics and what not? That Merc is still the thick end of half a second a lap faster (and no it isn't all down to Hamilton), to not be head of the Ferrari is unforgivable really. As for feeling sorry, multi millionaire gets payed shed loads to live the dream and still whines like a bh when he's not as good as some of the others? You'll have to show me your dictionary it obviously differs from mine.
On the topic of which, WTF was he blabbering on about after qualli? tactics/race thought ended with Q2. Q3 was all about raw speed. he didn't have it. And thats the beginning middle & end of it.
It is early in the season, but we are already at the point where Nico needs Lewis to have a DNF or some bad luck just to give him a chance to re-establish himself mentally. Nico's performance is so weak at the moment it almost diminishes Lewis' achievements because he has no genuine competition - similar to Vettel / Webber for the last 2 seasons.
Stick Ricciardo in the second Merc car to spice things up a bit.
Nico doesn't have an answer for Hamilton's speed, and is now overthinking what he can do. It's a desperate situation for him since it's looking rather unlikely he'll get a championship. He'll be in the same position as Webber unless he starts winning.
Mercedes is probably not to keen in changing the status quo either. Lewis' marketing potential is huge for Mercedes and Nico isn't. He's not a global star like Lewis.
Neither is Vettel but Ferrari targets a different crowd and he's quite suited for it.
Also, Lauda appears to think Lewis is the real racer between the two and Toto probably agrees.
Mercedes should change Nico's race engineer to give him a different perspective. I don't get the feeling they work very well together, and wouldn't be suprised if Nico moved away from Mercedes. If I was his manager would try to reignite McLaren's interest.
Otherwise that's it for young Rosberg. C'est la vie.
Mercedes is probably not to keen in changing the status quo either. Lewis' marketing potential is huge for Mercedes and Nico isn't. He's not a global star like Lewis.
Neither is Vettel but Ferrari targets a different crowd and he's quite suited for it.
Also, Lauda appears to think Lewis is the real racer between the two and Toto probably agrees.
Mercedes should change Nico's race engineer to give him a different perspective. I don't get the feeling they work very well together, and wouldn't be suprised if Nico moved away from Mercedes. If I was his manager would try to reignite McLaren's interest.
Otherwise that's it for young Rosberg. C'est la vie.
I'm not tribal these days, but I am loving the silence from the critics who used to say Vettel couldn't race, just the car, etc.
He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
Vaud said:
I'm not tribal these days, but I am loving the silence from the critics who used to say Vettel couldn't race, just the car, etc.
He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
+1He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
I've got to admit that I thought NR would do it today. However, he got beaten, and by a Ferrari as well. Bad show.
He's not going to feel too happy with that.
There's the race to come I suppose, but he's going to have his hands full of Vettel, at least for a while. He (NR) was criticised for not committing himself at the first corner last race and one wonders if he's going to be a bit gung ho here. Let's hope not.
A fascinating qually.
LH took an awful lot out of his softs in Q2, going much faster than he needed to. NR drove a lot more sensibly, then drove across the rough. How stupid was that for both? That said, if LH gets away into clean air then he should be able to look after them.
I like Wolff. His comments pre qually on BBC were enlightening.
Let's hope for a good, clean(ish) race, with all Mercs, Ferraries and Williams making it through the first couple of laps.
He's not going to feel too happy with that.
There's the race to come I suppose, but he's going to have his hands full of Vettel, at least for a while. He (NR) was criticised for not committing himself at the first corner last race and one wonders if he's going to be a bit gung ho here. Let's hope not.
A fascinating qually.
LH took an awful lot out of his softs in Q2, going much faster than he needed to. NR drove a lot more sensibly, then drove across the rough. How stupid was that for both? That said, if LH gets away into clean air then he should be able to look after them.
I like Wolff. His comments pre qually on BBC were enlightening.
Let's hope for a good, clean(ish) race, with all Mercs, Ferraries and Williams making it through the first couple of laps.
Dr Z said:
There were reports that Ferrari had put a new engine in the car for this weekend. Possibly with some token upgrades.
ETA: Track temps were much cooler, certainly than Malaysia or even China(?) so it doesn't explain the performance. The SF15-T is not a one trick pony.
They are both running a new engine after cracks were found in the China engines. Apparently they have issues with the blocks. They were hoping to bring an upgrade to Spain, 20-30hp gain and apparently some work on the blocks for strength too but this has been delayed until the Canadian race.ETA: Track temps were much cooler, certainly than Malaysia or even China(?) so it doesn't explain the performance. The SF15-T is not a one trick pony.
Jasandjules said:
Derek Smith said:
I like Wolff. His comments pre qually on BBC were enlightening.
Both him and Lauda. They do appear to answer the question asked rather than PR bull***t and waffle. I work with lot of nations in business and the Germans and the Dutch are the best on many levels, one being they are very open and honest when necessary.
HarryW said:
Jasandjules said:
Derek Smith said:
I like Wolff. His comments pre qually on BBC were enlightening.
Both him and Lauda. They do appear to answer the question asked rather than PR bull***t and waffle. I work with lot of nations in business and the Germans and the Dutch are the best on many levels, one being they are very open and honest when necessary.
Vaud said:
I'm not tribal these days, but I am loving the silence from the critics who used to say Vettel couldn't race, just the car, etc.
He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
Sorry can't agree, Vettel can only race when he has the car, he had it with RBR and has it now with Ferrari, where was he last season when the RBR didn't suit him, he had his arse handed to him by Riciardo!He looks like a very happy, focused chap this year who is supremely happy at Ferrari, and the confidence from their early pace will only spur on the whole team. I'm even warming to Arrivebene, his interview was interesting today.
Edited by Doink on Saturday 18th April 22:32
ajprice said:
Tiff Needell's twitter...
beaten at chairs too@tiff_tv said:
Beaten by him in karting beaten by him in F3 beaten by him last year. Do you think Nico is finally realising he's just not as good as Lewis?
http://wtf1.co.uk/hamilton-rosberg-chair-banter/
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