Bahrain Grand Prix

[bigC]

round three of the 2005 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix! :D

Ferrari, after 2 disappointing races, has been forced to introduce the F2005 earlier then it wanted in order to keep up to the pace set By Renault and challenge their speed. the F2004M clearly cannot keep up with Renault and the other teams. will the new car be enough? will the Ferraris be able to last an entire race?

but other teams also have serious questioned that need answering, ie, de la Rosa will be pressed into service as JPM injured himself whilst playing tennis, so how will McLaren fare? the BARs will try to last longer then three laps after the team was humiliated with 2 blown engines in Malaysia; can Toyota continue it's success from the last race and can Red Bull continue to surprise? in the first two races, only one BMW has been able to finish the race and score points, so they'll be interested to change their fortunes. Minardi and Jordan ... nevermind (why waste the time talking about also-rans)?

preview: http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=General&PO_ID=32404

just in case that there may be a vacancy at Sauber, Red Bull may loan them a driver, ie, JV's days at the team and in F1 are apparently numbered. and, DC thinks that JV may be "encouraged" to walk away from the sport. he has an abrasive personality, his skills may have eroded, or he just has bad luck, but that doesn't really matter, at least to me, since i am still a fan of his:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32414
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32406

the best driver in F1 never to win a race, Button, hopes that his BAR Honda can last more then three laps. i'm hoping his car doesn't: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32412

Red Bull has had success with it's Cosworth engines, but it may be interested in a new supplier for 2006, and has been linked with virtually every major engine supplier in F1, especially Honda, but they want to be treated as a partner and not a mere engine customer. despite talk of a new engine, they may stay with Cosworth: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formula_one/news_story.asp?ID=119934&hubName=auto_racing-formula_one

JPM will likely return for the San Marino GP in three weeks: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2771/734.html

[gaurav_fhs]

Renault is looking so hot! Im tempted to place $$ :D

[bigC]

Ferrari is happy with friday practice: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2790/734.html

results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/734/10.html

JV is far back and likely is on his way out of the series, beaten again by Massa, the Jordans, and 4 seconds behind the leader. Renault, McLaren, and RBR are fast as is to be now expected in the new order of things. Toyota is close, but Ralf is slower then his team-mate. BAR: i hope both their engines blow again. it should be an interesting qualy tomorrow!

Wurz the fastest, despite never driver the McLaren before: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2788/734.html

Bridgestone has supplied a new special tire for Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi that is hopes will be the difference, but Michelin will likely be the best, since they are involved with more teams, and only Ferrari has the chance to win (if the F2005 is fast enough):http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formula_one/news_story.asp?ID=120140&hubName=auto_racing-formula_one

[mikechai]

I remember in year 2003 or was it 2002? Bridgestone also struggled to keep up with Michelin. Tyres really play an important factor here this year more so that you can't simply change tyres during pitstop....

[MUYA]

1st Qualifying Results

1 F Alonso 1:29.848
2 J Trulli 1:29.993
3 M Schumacher 1:30.237
4 N Heidfeld 1:30.390
5 G Fisichella 1:30.445
6 M Webber 1:30.592
7 K Raikkonen 1:30.594
8 C Klien 1:30.646

[BrianG]

Fred's car looks like it is capable of a lot more. Schumi was pushing hard, Alonso, and Trulli for that matter, looked far smoother as though the car was still on 9 instead of 10.

It will be interesting to see how the F2005 reacts to raceweight fuel load. I get the feeling Ferrari will run a short first stint to try a get pole and get out ahead of Renault and Toyota. The problem with that is how well the Renault runs even when loaded down.

Watching Schumi stew waiting for the questions in the press room is fun. He knows his car is behind the Renault and Toyota and not even he has the talent to overcome the gap. Ferrari has to be happen to be on the second row going into final qualifying.

Heidfeld had the surprise run of the day. Webber was a little disappinting and Kimi ran a little wide on the final corner to drop to seven.

It should be a great race.

[Lfctony]

Meh, since Hakkinen retired, it's been a walk in the park for Ferrari. Hopefully this year we'll see a proper championship. Renault look very strong, here's to an interesting season. :beer:

[bigC]

in the top 8, both Renaults and BMWs, 1: Ferrari (Schumacher), McLaren (Kimi), Toyota (Trulli) and RBR (Klien, surprisingly not DC). both BARs were kinda slow, in 12 and 13, and i think they are still smarting from the Malaysian GP. Ralf and DC were off the pace, and Barrichello, who had very little time in his new car, managed only a 15th. this should be an interesting second qualy and race (ie, will Ferrari run a lighter fuel load to get the pole?).

Ferrari may not have the fastest car (yet) but the new F2005 is a beautiful machine, compact and sleek.

Sakhir: a race track in the desert. it looks unlike any other track in F1. in the middle of nowhere, a really mesmerizing setting, unearthly almost, grey and brown, drab skyline. sand instead of grass, sand mountains. i like this track, with it's elevations changes, straight-ways and severe braking twists. (but Spa is still the best, and the old Nürburgring. and Monaco). :)

first qualy results:http://www.formula1.com/race/result/734/19.html

[bigC]

Meh, since Hakkinen retired, it's been a walk in the park for Ferrari. Hopefully this year we'll see a proper championship. Renault look very strong, here's to an interesting season. :beer:i cheer for Ferrari, but i have to agree: i love competition, and want to see races late in the season, in Sept and Oct, that mean something to the championship. it would be great if it came down to the last race, winner take all (like in 97). i hope no one team or driver runs away with the championship.

[technews]

nice comeback for ferrari ..

still renault is the team to beat!

Poor performance from McLaren once again!

[mikechai]

Renault Ferrari front row!

Schumi is pushing!

[bigC]

the top 4 positions are occupied by 4 different teams, with a showdown between Schumi and Alonso at the start. McLaren, RBR, and especially BAR are off the pace for qualy.

http://www.formula1.com/race/result/734/18.html

[mikechai]

Fisichella is out.

Schumi is out too.

[Shamrock]

Schumi did NOT look happy when Alonso out qualled him....

I love it :D

[bigC]

Alonso wins, followed by Trulli and Kimi. Renault gained their 100th win in team history, and are starting to run away with things, as Alonso led for the entire race. however, there is still 16 races left. the Webber/de la Rosa fight was great, with the McLaren winning and gaining the hotly contested 4th spot.

there was nary a Ferrari to be found, as Schumi retired with gearbox probs, and Barrichello faded to 9th, with DC passing him to gain a point, as his F2005 was faltering. Massa in 7th, JV in 11th, but he had a chance for 8th, but had breaking problems and was forced to the pits. so close. the BARs: both retired. it was amusing to watch the technicians try and try to restart Button's car as he sat in the pits, fuming, manage to get the car started, only to see him flounder and stop at the end of the pitlane. BAR has definitely taken a step backwards early in this season.

story: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2811/734.html
results: http://www.formula1.com/race/result/734/8.html

[mikechai]

All in all a great race. Great result for McLaren. Another disappointing results for Ferrari and BAR Honda.

Man of the race = De La Rosa

[BrianG]

Dejected would be the word I would use to describer Spoonface's demeanor post-race. From the shots I saw of him, he was ready to explode. Gutsy drive from Rubino. His car was falling apart underneath him, but he held it together. Bridgestone has got some splainin' to do.

BAR? WTF happened to the preseason hype there Jensen? Step up. He is the only to have not finished a race yet and all of the blame can't be on the team. If your hardware is dodgy, chill out and drive smooth.

Renault/Fred are making it look easy. They had enough tread left to go one more stint. The car looks llike it is going slow when going fast meaning Alonso is not having to try to be fast, he just is. Whatever those cats are doing in the wind-tunnel and on the dyno, they need to keep doing it. They have more downforce with less wing than anyone out there. Have I mentioned that aside from being fast that the Renault is flat out gourgeous. You can not be a car person not like the shape of that chassis.

RBR was a dissapointment. I guess they were not able to keep race over race improvement pace with the rest of the middle runners. We'll see what happens when the new engine, reportedly with 30 more hp, arrives in the pit lane.

McLaren looked fst. It was all down to bad qualifying. They shot themselves in the front with poor starting positions. Kimi has no one to blame but himself as the bobble in qual1 cost him two or three rows. DeLaRosa had a helluve drive, sometimes a bit outside of himself. I imagine the team said go as fast as you can, we don't care what happens.

Williams, not bad. Seemingly a good effort, scored some points. Heidfelds engine will be new for next week, so good times for him. Webber put up a gutsy drive to keep dLR at bay for as long as he did. I haven't seen blocking like that since the Nebraska Cornhuskers last national championship team.

I am becoming a Toyota fan. Quiet progress, they need so little to catch Renault, but they Fenchies are half step ahead of Trulli.

Good start to the season...

[bigC]

overall, it was a good race, with some interesting battles, and a lot of attrition, as the desert course took its toll on the cars.

Schumie says it was the right decision to start the F2005 car for this race, despite the poor results. the previous introductions of new Ferraris resulted in wins for the team, not so this time: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32469

Flavio Briatore says that Ferrari is under pressure, and ripe for the taking. hmm, gloat now, while you are on top, because things can change really fast in F1. before today's race, Schumie did not have a DNF as a result of a mechanical breakdown since the 2001 season, so i wouldn't count on it happening every race weekend: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32462

losing continues for the pancing horse: http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/formula_one/news_story.asp?ID=120355&hubName=auto_racing-formula_one

the good: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2813/734.html

the bad: http://www.formula1.com/race/news/2814/734.html

and the ugly: Klein, never getting out of the pits, Karthikeyan retiring early, and Fisichella's vaunted Renault engine lasting all of 4 laps.

sigh, it's going to be a long three weeks until the 4th stop of the 2005 season, the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. :beer: :D

[Shamrock]

they never did say why Schumi retired, why? he just spun onto that BIG runoff area, he coulda turned right and continued on, why did he retire?

[bigC]

they never did say why Schumi retired, why? he just spun onto that BIG runoff area, he coulda turned right and continued on, why did he retire?methinks it was a gearbox issue, like Barrichello's, ie, he couldn't downshift so he retired the car.

[Mr_LoL]

BAR? WTF happened to the preseason hype there Jensen? Step up. He is the only to have not finished a race yet and all of the blame can't be on the team. If your hardware is dodgy, chill out and drive smooth

And come last :rolleyes:

[9point9]

methinks it was a gearbox issue, like Barrichello's, ie, he couldn't downshift so he retired the car.

Hydraulics failure. No hydraulics, no controls so no down change on approach to corner meaning no engine braking so he went for a little drive around the middle east to slow down. The reliability just shows what the car is: a FIAT.

I think F1 is so more exciting now that it's now being dominated by Ferrari.

[technews]

it is a FIAT that's true

but it was a fiat the previous six years :)

[MustangSVT]

Anybody else notice how we getting some really nice competition coverage now that Ferrari was out of the image for these 2 races?

Australia, some good fighting b/t Alonso, Trulli.

Malaysia - I think I saw some good fights, but can't remember..

But bahrain, I was impressed. De La Rosa and Webber. Barichello (ferrair tho) put up a nice fight. Also some nice racing from Raikonnen, Button was kinda sluggish though he's one of my favorites. Also, Nick Heidfeld, he put up a good fight. Raikonne, Heidfeld, Webber, De La Rosa, I thought that was pretty good.

[intercede007]

Hydraulics failure. No hydraulics, no controls so no down change on approach to corner meaning no engine braking so he went for a little drive around the middle east to slow down. The reliability just shows what the car is: a FIAT.

I think F1 is so more exciting now that it's now being dominated by Ferrari.

Fiat does not own Ferrari. Fiat SPa., their engineering firm does, which is a completely seperate and autonomous corporation.

Again, Fiat's automotive wing has absolutely nothing to do with Ferrari. Thats why when GM bought out Fiat a few years ago, they didn't buy any governance of Ferrari either.