Official 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Here we go again; a brand new season, starting in Bahrain. It was a promising pre-season test for Red Bull, so let’s hope that the team can carry this form into the first GP and Mercedes has actual competition.

Alpha Tauri, Mclaren, Alpine and Ferrari are all worth watching, judging by the pre-season test. Welcome back F1!

Just a note that clocks go forward on March 28.

Date(s): Friday 26 March - Sunday 28 March 2021.

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1; Channel 4 showing highlights of Race and Qualifying:





Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/290340

Tyre options:

Teams have two hard, three mediums and eight soft sets available per driver for each weekend.



2020 race result:



2020 race highlights:

https://youtu.be/HnfHMC02Mj4

[Deesee]

Ferrari to take Pole.

Seb grab a Podium.

Williams top 10.

[DanielSan]

I'm not even taking a punt at a random prediction, because who knows what the deal is after testing. Are Red Bull going to get the jump at the start of the season? Are Mercedes off the pace? Are Mclaren going to be close to the top 2? Are Aston Martin going to have more pace than testing suggested?

Who the fk knows?

[TheDeuce]

DanielSan said:

I'm not even taking a punt at a random prediction, because who knows what the deal is after testing. Are Red Bull going to get the jump at the start of the season? Are Mercedes off the pace? Are Mclaren going to be close to the top 2? Are Aston Martin going to have more pace than testing suggested?

Who the fk knows?

If Mercedes were able to resolve the issues they identified at the 'blink and miss it' testing, then I expect they will be ahead as per usual.

If they have an enduring issue, then clearly RB are the next most competitive team and could build themselves a decent title foundation for whatever time it takes Merc to sort themselves out.

As for the midfield, testing was no help at all in figuring out who is where. Other than predicating it will be 'close'. Probably

For some reason I've got a strong hunch Alpine might be st. IE stter than they appeared in testing. Although they do have the nicest looking car imo.

[Piginapoke]

Deesee said:

Ferrari to take Pole.

Seb grab a Podium.

Williams top 10.

That's bold! Ferrari have no chance of pole from the testing, but have made progress.

Verstappen for pole and win, Bottas 2nd (Hamilton seemed a bit disinterested all weekend), Ricciardo 3rd.

Williams looks firmly the 9th fastest team, so that's 16 faster cars ahead of it. I'd put £10 on no points all year again for Team Willy.

[Deesee]

Piginapoke said:

Deesee said:

Ferrari to take Pole.

Seb grab a Podium.

Williams top 10.

That's bold! Ferrari have no chance of pole from the testing, but have made progress.

Verstappen for pole and win, Bottas 2nd (Hamilton seemed a bit disinterested all weekend), Ricciardo 3rd.

Williams looks firmly the 9th fastest team, so that's 16 faster cars ahead of it. I'd put £10 on no points all year again for Team Willy.

Haha gets the conversation going!

Ferrari have continued with there low drag philosophy and now they have 100% fuel flow back (perhaps even 105% )they will be super quick out of the corners and down these long straights.

Can’t see Max winning but he will be up there high in Quali, has some competition in the same car this year.

Hamilton does not look happy, further reports of him being disgruntled with the contract, as he sulked around testing even refusing to open his drs..

Williams.. perhaps.. I can dream..

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Piginapoke said:

Deesee said:

Ferrari to take Pole.

Seb grab a Podium.

Williams top 10.

That's bold! Ferrari have no chance of pole from the testing, but have made progress.

Verstappen for pole and win, Bottas 2nd (Hamilton seemed a bit disinterested all weekend), Ricciardo 3rd.


Williams looks firmly the 9th fastest team, so that's 16 faster cars ahead of it. I'd put £10 on no points all year again for Team Willy.

Haha gets the conversation going!

Ferrari have continued with there low drag philosophy and now they have 100% fuel flow back (perhaps even 105% )they will be super quick out of the corners and down these long straights.

Can’t see Max winning but he will be up there high in Quali, has some competition in the same car this year.

Hamilton does not look happy, further reports of him being disgruntled with the contract, as he sulked around testing even refusing to open his drs..

Williams.. perhaps.. I can dream..

Williams top ten I think.







In the WCC.

[CustardOnChips]

Deesee said:

Piginapoke said:

Deesee said:

Ferrari to take Pole.

Seb grab a Podium.

Williams top 10.

That's bold! Ferrari have no chance of pole from the testing, but have made progress.

Verstappen for pole and win, Bottas 2nd (Hamilton seemed a bit disinterested all weekend), Ricciardo 3rd.

Williams looks firmly the 9th fastest team, so that's 16 faster cars ahead of it. I'd put £10 on no points all year again for Team Willy.

Haha gets the conversation going!

Ferrari have continued with there low drag philosophy and now they have 100% fuel flow back (perhaps even 105% )they will be super quick out of the corners and down these long straights.

Can’t see Max winning but he will be up there high in Quali, has some competition in the same car this year.

Hamilton does not look happy, further reports of him being disgruntled with the contract, as he sulked around testing even refusing to open his drs..

Williams.. perhaps.. I can dream..

Classic PH tactics of people making up stories to set a narrative they want to believe. But are just doing it to get the conversations going.

[EDLT]

Despite all the testing hype, BOTHAMVER followed by HAMBOTVER for the rest of the season.

[Deesee]

CustardOnChips said:

Classic PH tactics of people making up stories to set a narrative they want to believe. But are just doing it to get the conversations going.

Which bit?

[mw88]

Deesee said:

Hamilton does not look happy, further reports of him being disgruntled with the contract, as he sulked around testing even refusing to open his drs..

I heard Brundle mention this at some point - Apparently, they've recorded some stuff in the off season and he said Hamilton seemed a bit "Grupmy".

I think that can go 1 of 2 ways for the season.

It's either the best chance Bottas has of becoming champion, or Hamilton will use what ever makes him feel grumpy to smash everyone.

[Deesee]

mw88 said:

Deesee said:

Hamilton does not look happy, further reports of him being disgruntled with the contract, as he sulked around testing even refusing to open his drs..

I heard Brundle mention this at some point - Apparently, they've recorded some stuff in the off season and he said Hamilton seemed a bit "Grupmy".

I think that can go 1 of 2 ways for the season.

It's either the best chance Bottas has of becoming champion, or Hamilton will use what ever makes him feel grumpy to smash everyone.

Brundle was on the record last week stating it... anyway Lewis is a pro, once Next Friday starts it’s all about being the best.

[Sandpit Steve]

EDLT said:

Despite all the testing hype, BOTHAMVER followed by HAMBOTVER for the rest of the season.

Yep. Some bookies have Lewis and Max close to joint favourites for the first race, which in my mind is reading far too much into testing - and far too little into what Mercedes can do with the resources available!

[Mark-C]

Sandpit Steve said:

EDLT said:

Despite all the testing hype, BOTHAMVER followed by HAMBOTVER for the rest of the season.

Yep. Some bookies have Lewis and Max close to joint favourites for the first race, which in my mind is reading far too much into testing - and far too little into what Mercedes can do with the resources available!

We can all be hopeful of a change up at the top but it seems unlikely to be anything other than those three on the podium unless there's a DNF amongst them and I reckon Perez is good enough to mean Merc\Red Bull can expect to cover the top four.

I think it's more realistic to see a shake up below that and some interesting races from 5th down.

Would love to be wrong though!

[HustleRussell]

I do think that Mercedes have a bit of work to do with their car before they can lead the way again. I think we’ll have a Verstappen pole and a typically strong showing from McLaren at their home from home. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Bottas out-qualify Hamilton too.

[anonymous-user]

Max to win, Riciardo 2nd, Norris 3rd.

[Jasandjules]

I will be surprised if Merc are not on Pole. What is going to be interesting is whether the McLarens can attack the Red Bulls, their chassis seems stable and now with Merc power.....

[Flooble]

Hamilton didn't seem "on it" at all during testing. Others have said it might be the contract for a year, but it could also be after-effects of Covid. Either way, if he isn't on top form that could have knock-on effects for Bottas.

I also saw an article somewhere, not sure where, where Perez (or Horner, or someone) said that Red Bull have now stabilised the car. Possibly the regulations not changing much has limited the amount of messing around that could be done so this years' car is driveable. Which may see two Red Bulls running near the front and Mercedes won't be able to vacillate on strategy in the manner to which they have become accustomed. Mercedes do tend to fluff their strategy when under pressure ...

Could be really interesting, especially if Mclaren are up there ready to pounce (and maybe even Racing Point, who basically have last years' Mercedes which is possibly an easier car to tame than this years!)

[anonymous-user]

Aston don't have last years Mercedes.

Their aero is a major change for this year if you look at how they have implemented their sidepods.

[Flooble]

jsf said:

Aston don't have last years Mercedes.

Their aero is a major change for this year if you look at how they have implemented their sidepods.

Rounder?