2021 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

[Santaria]

Meh. Same same I thought. HAM BOT VER in a different order. Still the 40 second gap back to Bottas from the front 2 is crazy.

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[KNAPPO]

Bah, im really hoping Max can take it to Sir Stevenage for the whole season.

I was really hoping he would get the W... Such a pitty he ran wide on exit.

[DarrenM]

Meh. Same same I thought. HAM BOT VER in a different order. Still the 40 second gap back to Bottas from the front 2 is crazy.

Bottas did an extra stop at the end to get the fastest lap point and lost 7-8 seconds in his 2nd stop when they couldn't get his front wheel on.

[Exar Kun]

Red Bull are definitely in front pace wise at the moment. They've always developed well and closed the gap to Mercedes over the year too so I think Max is still favourite for the title right now. What's exciting is that the cars are close enough that strategy or a driver of Lewis or Max's ability can make the difference on the day. As long as the Red Bull single lap advantage doesn't translate to all tracks we should be in for a close year.

[Exar Kun]

Meanwhile, how shit did that Haas look? Even taking into account Mazepin's crapness. Willies should hopefully clear the bottom of the table this year!

[KNAPPO]

It was pretty frustrating that the Mercs were running wide from the start, thus gaining an advantage, and yet they just get told to stop doing it. Max does it at the end, and gets told to give the position back. And as usual, Lewis bitching about track limits after doing it for dozens of laps. But hey, they are out to get him.

He was certainly out there...

Someone put this together.

[norbs]

Well that is fucking ridiculous.

[durbster]

Cracking race and even though the result was the usual, Lewis really earned this one. Mind you, the track limits thing is an issue F1 really needs to sort, and not with regulations. Why can't they just make the area beyond the track off camber so they get penalised naturally?

I was just poking about with the stats on racefans:
https://www.racefans.net/2021/03/29/202 ... and-tyres/

Some interesting things between team mates on there. First of all, Stroll was quite a bit faster than Vettel throughout the race. Really feel bad for Seb because he really needed this race to go his way. I can't see how he can come back from it.

Perhaps more surprising was Sainz vs Leclerc. Although Sainz was a few places back, he was actually faster than Leclerc for most of the race. If Sainz can get closer in qualifying that could get very interesting.

Also looks like Latifi was almost able to keep up with Russell.

[w00dsy]

Lewis and Max lap by lap at T4

[durbster]

Odd that Merc thought it legal and RBR didn't.

Do we know how much advantage it was worth (if any)?

[Santaria]

Meh. Same same I thought. HAM BOT VER in a different order. Still the 40 second gap back to Bottas from the front 2 is crazy.

Bottas did an extra stop at the end to get the fastest lap point and lost 7-8 seconds in his 2nd stop when they couldn't get his front wheel on.

Ah ok. That makes sense. Well, past Bottas was even further again then.

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[Big Kev]

Do we know how much advantage it was worth (if any)?

Presumably you can carry just a little bit more speed. I'm sure I heard them say in Praccy 3 that the teams had been told the limits on that corner. Merc were taking the piss.

The simple solution is that the line is the limit. You must have wheels inside the track at all times. But I think their main issue is that not all tracks have all parts of the line covered by CCTV for them to check, but surely you just need the cheaty places like that covered.

Brilliant race though. If they're all like that it'll be a cracking season. Great drive from Perez back from last place so you have to think Merc will finally have to deal with an attack from both Red Bulls at most of the races this time.

[durbster]

Perez bringing that RBR back through the field was truly Albon-esque

[pixelboy]

They should put ripple strips that damage suspension! That would stop them.

[w00dsy]

Odd that Merc thought it legal and RBR didn't.

Do we know how much advantage it was worth (if any)?

Apparently the rule is you can go out there but you can't pass there.

[Big Kev]

Just wondering about Comrade Marzipan.
Is that the shortest ever Grand Prix debut? 3 corners?

[r8response]

He's done more formation laps than actual green flag racing laps.

[w00dsy]

Just wondering about Comrade Marzipan.
Is that the shortest ever Grand Prix debut? 3 corners?

Massa and McNish went out at the first corner in 2002 at Albert Park in that big 8 car stack.

[KNAPPO]

Would have to be up there for the shortest self induced DNF on debut tho.

[pab]

Apparently the rule is you can go out there but you can't pass there.

So a car under attack can use the faster line, but the attacking car can't? No wonder they need DRS to create passing.

[w00dsy]

McLaren found floor damage on Ricciardos car after the contract with Gasly on the first lap.

[Duke]

Great insights into what happened.
Agree it's time track limits are enforced, either 1 wheel or 2 always inside the edge white line of the track.

[Duke]

Crickey, what a great article from F1.com, have hat it boys...

Hamilton vs Verstappen – The data that shows what was really happening in the cockpit during their Bahrain battle

Also watch this