Official 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

Official 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

Author
Discussion

vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
quotequote all
My memory is not what it was, but I may recall that in previous years once the title was secured (and all the energy it took), Lewis was not as strong in the final races (understandably)?

Looking forward to the balance of the season as this year has been amazing.


HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
quotequote all
Midfield battle should be good. Both Racing Point drivers seem to be back on form. McLaren traditionally put on a good show in Bahrain, however the circuit layouts may play more to Renault's strengths. Toro Rosso should spring back after a weekend to forget in Turkey. Ferrari will probably suffer a bit more in the final few races of the season than they have been recently at the less power sensitive circuits.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
quotequote all
Deesee said:
TheDeuce said:
Surely Ferrari have to be desperate to at least find a way to beat Renault (competitor in PU stakes and road car manufacturer) this season? Beyond that probable ambition, they're out of the battle for third.
Dani Ric is in fine form at present though & Renault should fair well the next 3 races, they could even win the ‘oval’ race.

I suppose it’s what Ferrari turn up (in particular Seb), just how many points Racing Point are prepared to throw away, and if McLaren can actually put a Quali session together and start a few positions up as race wise they are quick over the GP distance.

The thorn in the side here however is Alpha Tauri, I can actually see them scoring higher than the other midfield teams in this race and Abu Dhabi, it may be a question of Renault/ McLaren having to fight to pick up the smaller points on offer here.
I really think DR for the 'oval'. Should suit the car and he is one of the few that can find an overtake on a track where overtaking is #impossible. I'm not entirely sure Renault deserve to win the battle for third but as a driver DR certainly does, he's top level imo.

I think Ferrari have flattered themselves recently and Charles has fought very hard. They've peaked though, I think they won't end the season on the high that one of their cars has enjoyed just recently. As for Seb, god only knows. He's not at 100% and whatever he has left to offer he sure as hell isn't giving 100% to Ferrari. It's like watching a kid trying to concentrate on his last lesson of the term at school - his mind is a million miles away..


Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
So, we finally leave Europe for a triple-header of dusk races in the Middle East to finish off the season. After problems caused by low temperatures in recent races, that’s unlikely to be a problem now, with temps around 30°C during the day, dropping to 25 or so once the sun disappears.

First race should be a continuation of the tight battle behind the top three, although with the title in the bag Lewis might not be 100% on the pace either. We could see VB and MV fighting for the win.

Second race is the one I’m really looking forward to, on the outer circuit. The way the lap is laid out could make it difficult to keep the batteries charged lap after lap during the race, so we might see some severe derating at the end of the straights which will encourage overtaking. It could be that one team can manage this better than the others, and we end up with a surprising result.

Mr_Thyroid

1,995 posts

226 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
vaud said:
My memory is not what it was, but I may recall that in previous years once the title was secured (and all the energy it took), Lewis was not as strong in the final races (understandably)?

It was true in 2018 that he had never won a race after securing the title. I always thought this was a weak stat because 08 and 14 went to the final round so it come down to the 3 races he failed to win at the end of 15 and 2 in 17.

I reckon he's more mature now and even more motivated - he's homing in on 100 wins and poles so he won't let up. And don't forget his car is more dominant and his main challenger is weaker on race days than in 15 or 17.

seymourski

286 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
If I’m right he has also won all the races at the “additional” circuits (Mugello, Portimao, Imola and Eiffel) so I would think he would want the clean sweep and include the outer circuit at Bahrain.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
seymourski said:
If I’m right he has also won all the races at the “additional” circuits (Mugello, Portimao, Imola and Eiffel) so I would think he would want the clean sweep and include the outer circuit at Bahrain.
He also won in Turkey and Spain, neither of which were scheduled races this season. Quite the record.

seymourski

286 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
How could I forget Turkey...thanks for the correction!

Deesee

8,331 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
There’s a few records in sight before the end of the season.

3 more wins puts him on 13 race victories in a season with Seb in 13 and MSC in 2004.

Taking the points finish to 50 consecutive races.

100 poles is also achievable.

All nice achievements to take down before 2021.


glazbagun

14,259 posts

196 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
I think he's learned from 2015 (when Rosberg never relented) not to get complacent at the end, but subconciously it must make a difference when you don't *need* the points, when everyone else is still fighting for their place.

Bottas could do with the confidence boost, but TBH he must be as depressed as you can be driving the best car and being paid millions. There's no way he'll beat Lewis over a season.

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
I could be alone, but a little part of me wants to just get this one out of the way to see them race on the not an oval but massively flat out version of the track.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
DanielSan said:
I could be alone, but a little part of me wants to just get this one out of the way to see them race on the not an oval but massively flat out version of the track.
Indeed - I think several of us are looking to race 2 here! But then this is 2020 and everything is weird, maybe the first race will be another knockout classic... (maybe, I'm not expecting it to be).

Regardless the 2nd, on the outer 'ring' will be entertaining and will probably cause a few cars to falter as it's so unlike any circuit that was envisaged when they were designed.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Indeed - I think several of us are looking to race 2 here! But then this is 2020 and everything is weird, maybe the first race will be another knockout classic... (maybe, I'm not expecting it to be).

Regardless the 2nd, on the outer 'ring' will be entertaining and will probably cause a few cars to falter as it's so unlike any circuit that was envisaged when they were designed.
Well, we're 14 from 14 good races so far this season! The last crap race was France last year, before the summer break.

Bahrain (usual circuit) and AD could go either way IMHO, but the 'oval' BAH2 track is almost certainly going to be a good one. The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Sandpit Steve said:
TheDeuce said:
Indeed - I think several of us are looking to race 2 here! But then this is 2020 and everything is weird, maybe the first race will be another knockout classic... (maybe, I'm not expecting it to be).

Regardless the 2nd, on the outer 'ring' will be entertaining and will probably cause a few cars to falter as it's so unlike any circuit that was envisaged when they were designed.
Well, we're 14 from 14 good races so far this season! The last crap race was France last year, before the summer break.

Bahrain (usual circuit) and AD could go either way IMHO, but the 'oval' BAH2 track is almost certainly going to be a good one. The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.
Quite - there have been some slightly dull races this year but all worth watching. I think Paul Ricard is just an obvious and embarrassing blot on the calendar each season. I've asked around whenever I've been in working over there (and in fact on these forums to french members) and even the French think it's a bit st. That one needs to go. 2019 set a very high bar and Paul Ricard was an affront to what every other circuit delivered.

Deesee

8,331 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Re BAH2 / Sakir
Sandpit Steve said:
The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.
The maximum deployment is 33 seconds per lap, we are looking at 55 second laps..

This is a 3.5 km lap (rather than spa at 7km so double the deployment over the GP distance). It’s 800m a lap shorter than the Red Bull Ring.

I think this will be the closest we will ever see a v6 turbo hybrid to ‘flat’ out.

The normal style set up is roughly 29 seconds of auto deployment, and 4 seconds of optional deployment, we may see maps with more optional deployment for defence against DRS (assuming they run DRS).

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Deesee said:
Re BAH2 / Sakir
Sandpit Steve said:
The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.
The maximum deployment is 33 seconds per lap, we are looking at 55 second laps..

This is a 3.5 km lap (rather than spa at 7km so double the deployment over the GP distance). It’s 800m a lap shorter than the Red Bull Ring.

I think this will be the closest we will ever see a v6 turbo hybrid to ‘flat’ out.

The normal style set up is roughly 29 seconds of auto deployment, and 4 seconds of optional deployment, we may see maps with more optional deployment for defence against DRS (assuming they run DRS).
Mercedes easy win then? biggrin

Deesee

8,331 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Deesee said:
Re BAH2 / Sakir
Sandpit Steve said:
The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.
The maximum deployment is 33 seconds per lap, we are looking at 55 second laps..

This is a 3.5 km lap (rather than spa at 7km so double the deployment over the GP distance). It’s 800m a lap shorter than the Red Bull Ring.

I think this will be the closest we will ever see a v6 turbo hybrid to ‘flat’ out.

The normal style set up is roughly 29 seconds of auto deployment, and 4 seconds of optional deployment, we may see maps with more optional deployment for defence against DRS (assuming they run DRS).
Mercedes easy win then? biggrin
BAH2? No.. they have too much downforce/drag, need something slippery, like a Renault/Alpha Tauri or a W10 look a likey smile

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Deesee said:
TheDeuce said:
Deesee said:
Re BAH2 / Sakir
Sandpit Steve said:
The big challenge will be keeping the batteries working properly, on a track that's even more straight than Monza.
The maximum deployment is 33 seconds per lap, we are looking at 55 second laps..

This is a 3.5 km lap (rather than spa at 7km so double the deployment over the GP distance). It’s 800m a lap shorter than the Red Bull Ring.

I think this will be the closest we will ever see a v6 turbo hybrid to ‘flat’ out.

The normal style set up is roughly 29 seconds of auto deployment, and 4 seconds of optional deployment, we may see maps with more optional deployment for defence against DRS (assuming they run DRS).
Mercedes easy win then? biggrin
BAH2? No.. they have too much downforce/drag, need something slippery, like a Renault/Alpha Tauri or a W10 look a likey smile
I meant Mercedes probably have the best non assisted ICE. But for sure, I think Renault or RP have this one. Although it would never amaze me if Mercedes manage to find an angle and win given how 'on it' they are through a race weekend.

If I was betting, definitely Renault or RP. I can smell a DR victory here...

Deesee

8,331 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
I meant Mercedes probably have the best non assisted ICE. But for sure, I think Renault or RP have this one. Although it would never amaze me if Mercedes manage to find an angle and win given how 'on it' they are through a race weekend.

If I was betting, definitely Renault or RP. I can smell a DR victory here...
I apologise, I read that wrong.

The Renault PU in race mode is apparently the most powerful (not necessarily capable), but they are all so close now, (well except the Red one).

Mercs angle seems to be (at say the red bull ring, which is the closest we have to this track), under fuel for less weight, hold position, lift and coast and gamble on a SC..

I’m not sure that will work here the track is too wide and too straight! Agreed what Merc do will be intriguing, and it’s a great opportunity for the midfield to gamble and get a result here.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Deesee said:
I apologise, I read that wrong.

The Renault PU in race mode is apparently the most powerful (not necessarily capable), but they are all so close now, (well except the Red one).

Mercs angle seems to be (at say the red bull ring, which is the closest we have to this track), under fuel for less weight, hold position, lift and coast and gamble on a SC..

I’m not sure that will work here the track is too wide and too straight! Agreed what Merc do will be intriguing, and it’s a great opportunity for the midfield to gamble and get a result here.
Agreed, a great chance for a Renault or McLaren to do something different and take a result, maybe even a win.

Working the deployment system hard could also result in failures, especially at the end of the season with every engine having done a few races already.

I wonder if someone’s (Hi, Max V!) strategy might be to break out a new engine at the first Bahrain race, taking the penalty there in order to add a new PU to the pool for the second race?