F1 2009 Bahrain GP

[Centurion]

Although Hamilton might be able to challenge Button for the WDC, it's safe to say that Brawn are favourite to win the constructors championship. They've got two highly skilled drivers, superb team principal and a car with astound pace.

Ferrari managed to save themselves from further humiliation by at least scoring some points which was really the main objective for them here in Sakhari. BMW Sauber are a wreckage. Right now they are in a race of their own together with Torro Rosso and Force India.

 

[Remy Zero]

My guess was right. Ferrari did make progress, and if Massa didn't have that Kers issue, it would be a double scoring position.

Jenson drove a brilliant race, and was very smooth. Great stuff from him. Now, however, it would be really interesting month. The next 2 races are where the top teams are 'supposed' to be on pace again. So a great build up.

 

[Remy Zero]

Although Hamilton might be able to challenge Button for the WDC, it's safe to say that Brawn are favourite to win the constructors championship. They've got two highly skilled drivers, superb team principal and a car with astound pace.

Ferrari managed to save themselves from further humiliation by at least scoring some points which was really the main objective for them here in Sakhari. BMW Sauber are a wreckage. Right now they are in a race of their own together with Torro Rosso and Force India.

Mclaren and Lewis won't win the championship this year. Safe to say that for BMW, and probably Ferrari too, altho today, there were glimpses of Ferrari's speed. However, this year, depending on the development of the diffusers and other parts, i see Jenson being WDC this year, we well as Brawn taking the WCC.

However, like i said, this is just baseless prediction. We still have no idea what Adrian Newey has up his sleeve, for the updated diffusers on the RedBull. We could have Vettel pushing Jenson all the way.

 

[Centurion]

Mclaren and Lewis won't win the championship this year. Safe to say that for BMW, and probably Ferrari too, altho today, there were glimpses of Ferrari's speed. However, this year, depending on the development of the diffusers and other parts, i see Jenson being WDC this year, we well as Brawn taking the WCC.

Jenson is a good driver but Hamilton is better. During the recent races we've seen what great results Hamilton can produce even when he's car is lacking in pace. At the start of the race he leap frogged himself into second position, and if the car had comparable speed of the Toyota or Red Bull then Hamilton would have dominated the race in the manner he did in 2007 and 2008. He's not afraid of anyone and has the skills and courage to overtake, and that's what will give him the edge over the other drivers once the car has gained further improvements. Further more Mclaren is a highly reliable team making Hamilton Button's biggest threat. WCC would have been in sight if Heikki was a better driver.

Vettel is a superb but he has yet to prove that he has world class like Hamilton and Alonso which are undoubtedly the two best drivers out there. Red Bull aren't 100% reliable either, but he's chances for winning WDC are there although Button and brawn have a more sustainable performance. What's in Massa's way is clearly engineering and reliability issues with the latter needed to be sorted out ASAP if Ferrari are win at least one race this year. The top is very crowded these days.

 

[Bartek S.]

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
The Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain;
57 laps;
308.238km;
Weather: Sunny.
Classified: Pos Driver Team Time
1. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1h31:48.182
2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) + 7.187
3. Trulli Toyota (B) + 9.170
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 22.096
5. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) + 37.779
6. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 42.057
7. Glock Toyota (B) + 42.880
8. Alonso Renault (B) + 52.775
9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 58.198
10. Piquet Renault (B) + 1:05.149
11. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1:07.641
12. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 1:17.824
13. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 1:18.805
14. Massa Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
15. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1 lap
16. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1 lap
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
18. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 1 lap
19. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 1 lap
Fastest lap: Trulli, 1:34.556
Not classified/retirements: Driver Team On lap
Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 49

World Championship standings, round 4:
Drivers:
1. Button 31
2. Barrichello 19
3. Vettel 18
4. Trulli 14.5
5. Glock 12
6. Webber 9.5
7. Hamilton 9
8. Alonso 5
9. Heidfeld 4
10. Kovalainen 4
11. Rosberg 3.5
12. Buemi 3
13. Raikkonen 3
14. Bourdais 1

Constructors:
1. Brawn GP-Mercedes 50
2. Red Bull-Renault 27.5
3. Toyota 26.5
4. McLaren-Mercedes 13
5. Renault 5
6. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 4
7. BMW Sauber 4
8. Williams-Toyota 3.5
9. Ferrari 3

 

[siko]

OMFG...what a disaster race for BMW!?

Every race is getting from bad to worse! What's going on there?!

 

[Remy Zero]

Jenson is a good driver but Hamilton is better. During the recent races we've seen what great results Hamilton can produce even when he's car is lacking in pace. At the start of the race he leap frogged himself into second position, and if the car had comparable speed of the Toyota or Red Bull then Hamilton would have dominated the race in the manner he did in 2007 and 2008. He's not afraid of anyone and has the skills and courage to overtake, and that's what will give him the edge over the other drivers once the car has gained further improvements. Further more Mclaren is a highly reliable team making Hamilton Button's biggest threat. WCC would have been in sight if Heikki was a better driver.

Vettel is a superb but he has yet to prove that he has world class like Hamilton and Alonso which are undoubtedly the two best drivers out there. Red Bull aren't 100% reliable either, but he's chances for winning WDC are there although Button and brawn have a more sustainable performance. What's in Massa's way is clearly engineering and reliability issues with the latter needed to be sorted out ASAP if Ferrari are win at least one race this year. The top is very crowded these days.

Hamilton is better than Jenson? I respectfully disagree. JB over the years hasn't had an equipment as near as the Mclaren. Mclaren aren't off the pace as many predicted this season. Yes of cos, i'm not denying Hammi's skills behind the wheel, but the have been greatly help with Mclaren's ever reliable KERS system.

Anyways, here's a pic taken just before the Bahrain race, which explains why Kimi drove a solid race

 

[Remy Zero]

OMFG...what a disaster race for BMW!?

Every race is getting from bad to worse! What's going on there?!

Thats a puzzling one. Since Canada last year, BMW abondoned all updates and started on the 2009 car rather early, and it seemed like it backfired.

It's still puzzling when Kubik was the fastest driver in Aussie.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

>
^ This was such an embarrassing race for BMW. Thiessen's head is on the line if it continues like this.

 

[Poverty]

Hamilton is better than Jenson? I respectfully disagree. JB over the years hasn't had an equipment as near as the Mclaren. Mclaren aren't off the pace as many predicted this season. Yes of cos, i'm not denying Hammi's skills behind the wheel, but the have been greatly help with Mclaren's ever reliable KERS system.

Anyways, here's a pic taken just before the Bahrain race, which explains why Kimi drove a solid race

button has nothing special. just above average f1 driver in the best car

 

[Centurion]

Cool photoshop but in this economic downturn Ferrari will most likely opt for a cheaper driver like Vettel, who also have several years left before he'll even consider retirement. Ferrari will want a driver who's young and can grow with the team.

 

[Giannis]

I have a simple question for you guys: Why is Ferrari doing so crap this season?

 

[Gullwing]

The first lap was probably one of the best laps I have ever seen. There was a bunch of contact throughout the entire lap.
After that...

Hami did well, car still needs tons of work.
Kov
Massa

I thought many more cars would have dropped out for whatever reasons.

 

[MoSs]

great race! hamilton drove a solid race, im very impressed with mclarens fast progress!

i totaly agree with Centurion, we are used to hamilton having the best car of the grid now that the team is strugling hamilton have been proving himself who he really is, starting from the back and finishing up front, "thats what i call talent", unlike alonso talking and nagging about his car bullshit bullshit bullshit then when it comes to racing hes way of the pace.

 

[Centurion]

I have a simple question for you guys: Why is Ferrari doing so crap this season?

The inferior teams began developing their 2009 cars early last year while Ferrari didn't start full scale development until the end of the last season. Brawn, Red Bull and the rest gained a major edge in having close to a year for developing a new car. On the flip side, Ferrari had major reliability and performance issues last year too and were saved by the helping hand of FIA. It's clear that the teams isn't not cruising well without Todt.

 

[LaArtist]

Hami did good with a bad car..

Other than that..a pretty good race..

PS
BMW sucks disco booty in F1

 

[NarutoRamen]

First of all, congrats to Button for a good drive and Brawn team for good strategy.

Second - I gotta hand it to Hamilton, good job buddy. But, of course, it's not surprising considering is one of the best ones on the grid.

Third - WOOT! Ferrari got it's first points for the year....LOL

 

[Centurion]

Second - I gotta hand it to Hamilton, good job buddy. But, of course, it's not surprising considering is one of the best ones on the grid.

Well you can say that twice to all the people who whined in 2007 and 2008 claiming that Hamilton is only great because of the car. Now they've got no ammunition left for scrutinising Hamilton as we've finally seen him drive a crappy car.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Well you can say that twice to all the people who whined in 2007 and 2008 claiming that Hamilton is only great because of the car. Now they've got no ammunition left for scrutinising Hamilton as we've finally seen him drive a crappy car.

Well, I don't think it's crappy. It's still good, has in interim diffuser and a few other upgrades and KERS. It's hardly crappy.

 

[Sunny]

People are making too much out of the diffuser. RB is winning races and doesn't have the multi plane diffuser, Williams has it and still doesn't do too good.