BAHRAIN GP Race Day ******SPOILER******

I don't know if any of you guys heard this, but Ferrari have some new improvements that will be added for Barcelona and the following races, so our pace should improve even more. It's time for us to take hold of this Championship!

Forza Ferrari,

John

 

Agree, but will give credit where credit is due. Massa drove a good, fast and clean race today. Only criticisim is a couple of massive brake locks ...

Kimi and Alonso both drove struggling cars, thinking of the WDC.
Pete

 

How could Massa running off the track not be a blunder? He made a mistake, but then he made up for it in Bahrain. Also, how can you say that Kimi couldn't have passed Lewis in that situation?

On the other hand, I DEFINITELY agree with you about Kimi's SC restarts. He really needs to improve on that.

 

Which, like in qualifying, he has done in 2 of 3 races over Kimi so far.

Between winter testing and 3 races so far, Kimi has out shown Phil in overall pace only in Melbourne. I'm talking pace only here not podiums. The numbers don't lie.

The flat out domination and blowing away of Phil by Kimi that so many here touted just hasn't materialized.

Also kinda bothers me that Kimi needed the pits to pass Fred today whereas Nick took it to him on the track, whatever the reason

 

If Kimi has to adapt to the Ferrari to get the max out of it, wouldn't Alonso and Hamilton have the same issue? So the McLarens could actually be a tenth or two faster than it is now?

 

Kimi seemed off to me but I am glad for his podium. I am also happy Nick got around Alonso. Nothing like racing to keep your job.

Oh, and I would not doubt if you guys all submitted complaints because Raikkonen doesn't jump around like a school girl after a win or podium finish

 

That didn't stop Nick from passing Alonso did it?

 

Ah, but that's a BMW.

 

Ok I admit it I was about to submit a complaint for not jumping around. How about a smile instead if not for his third place finish, for Massa's win?



I do not really care, just want Ferrari cars to finish 1-2 and Alonzo no where to be seen. Congrats to Nick and BMW. Looks like the season is just going to get more exciting by having a third team in the front mix.

 

I agree. Not seeing Alonso on the podium was a nice change. I would love to see a Ferrari 1-2 with one of the BMWs in third, preferably Kubica. He's due for some good luck. The poor guy has great talent, but he hasn't has decent luck until today. Meanwhile, Nick seems to be doing pretty well.

 

Right, but Kimi was behind him before Nick passed him. Kimi might have had the opportunity if he didn't make those few mistakes, locking up and understeering etc. It might have been Kimi's fault or the car's fault, but it's clear the BMW isn't on the same level as a Ferrari or Mclaren, even if either car isn't perfect.

 

Just got done watching the race I recorded on dvr. Wasn't a bad race, glad to see that Massa was able to keep his spot on the track. Was expecting a little bit more from Kimi, but 1,3 is good enough for now.

I'm happy to see a three way tie at the top, looks like this season's WDC is going to be very tightly contended.

 

Watched the race again and Hobbs made a comment about FA playing with KR whenever KR closed in-KR had to go offline to avoid ramming FA; me thinks that FA was brake testing him....

 

Last year, you could overreach your grip, and the tires would deliver that little extra. This year, the spec tires just don't have it to give. I think Hamilton has an advantage from not having gotten used to the "old" tires.

We saw last year that Alonso was hard on his tires -- using a lot of those reserves that the spec tires can't provide, so he may be having trouble adapting. Looking at some of Kimi's lines through the turns, it seems like he is also asking more of the tires than is there.

I think we're seeing the difference between practice and racing. It's one thing to practice on the new tires, but quite another to know what's possible when you get wheel to wheel with another car in the heat of the action. Massa found out in spectacular fashion last week that you can't push the envelope as far as before.

Through practice and qualifying, I was beginning to wonder if Ferrari had asked Kimi to hold back in order to restore Massa's confidence. But Kimi wouldn't have been holding back in the race, and wasn't much better. I think Kimi is just having a hard time getting used to the new tires.

Remember that both Kimi and Alonso are coming off last year's Michelins, so the spec Bridgestones are quite a change for them.

This looks to be developing into an interesting season, as drivers gain experience with the new tires.

I just hope Ferrari can wring out the new gearbox. Even three races in, it's reliability that defines the biggest difference in points.

 

I heard that also, but I did not know if it was the front end starting to wash out and Kimi loosing traction. We know Kimi was running more fuel so he was heavier. That may account for Kimi having to go off-line when/if he was brake tested.

 

Good post!

 

-1

I disagree. FA is is the reigning 2 time and current WDC. KR is arguably the fastest man on the grid.

Do you really think that a change from Michelins to BS's is more of a change for FA(and Kimi for that matter) than it is for LH to go from GP2 to F1 ? He's gone to a whole new formula not just changed tires !

And so far the only reliability issue for the 4 cars between SF and McL over 3 races has been Massa's gearbox in Melbourne. Hardly what most would call the defining issue to date.

The biggest difference in points so far has been Massa's driving error botching it up in Malaysia. Not reliability.

 

Good job for Massa! He was very humble and thankful to his team on the radio after winning - as I said, a nice guy!

Disappointed in Kimi's performance. One of Kimis strong points was turning in blistering qualifying performances, as well as pulling off phenomenal passes. He has seemed to be more of the "old faithful horse" these last two races, which is polarly opposite to his reputation. Granted he had a sick car last race, but this race he just didn't seem to do anything other than settle into place, pass Alonso in the pits, and chug along to the end. Oh well.

Overall the race was immensely boring. The only excitement was the initial laps where Ferrari and McLaren were fighting for spots 1-4, as well as the build-up for potential drama on the restart, which never happened. Only other things that stood out were Heidfeld's AWESOME pass on Alonso (I agree with Matchett, I would have loved to see Ron Dennis' face), and Coulthard fighting his way up the field.

People say Webber has "dominated" coulthard, but today Coulthard came from the very back and caught up with and passed Webber. That's pretty impressive considering they were in equal cars. Atta-boys for David.

Sucks we have to wait 4 weeks until the next race.

RE: The comments from folks saying if the "Massa bashers" will come out - it has nothing to do with bashing massa. It's an objective review of facts, data, and relative performance. We will see how things go as the season progresses. Race 1, Kimi dominates. Race 3, Massa dominates. Race 2, Massa shows promise, makes a huge blunder, and sub-performs Kimi who did better in a sick car. So far, Kimi has performed better overall. But Kimi seriously needs to qualify better and make some fricking passes. Were it not for Massas mechanical failure in race 1, and his dumb mistake in race 2, it may have been the Felipe Massa show for these first three races.

I also can NOT WAIT for Alonso to start with the whining - I predict it will be about how Lewis is Ron's golden boy and he is getting all the perks, the better go-fast bits, and best strategy while the mighty Fernando deserves it all. I just cannot wait until that bleating starts, it will be delicious to witness his meltdown, if indeed it comes. Michael knew that it was a team effort, and when the going gets tough, they closed ranks and put on a stiff upper lip and worked twice as hard. For Fredo, I think when the going gets tough, he will do as before and start pointing fingers and crying like a little beotch.

 

He already has. He's been bemoaning the fact he had no confidence in the car with both under and oversteer at the same time.

I think he needs some good cheese with that whine.

 

I don't understand how some of you think this race was boring, to me this was the most exciting race so far. At Sepang, the only interesting part was the first couple of laps with Hamilton and Massa, and the last couple with Kimi chasing down Lewis.

 

+1 agreed!

like i mentioned in my earlier post, Kimi cost Ferrari a 1-2 finish and of course, some valuable WCC points. we all gotta remember that MS too, made stupid mistakes ( Hungary 2006, Aussie 2006 ). what i don't understand is, why is there so much of biasness between Kimster and Phil Massa?

as far as i'm concerned, Kimster did nothing spectacular today, aside from passing Fred via pits. but heck, Quick Nick did in on the track. so nothing there to celebrate.

Massa, OTOH, drove very much like MS. he pushed at early stages, controlled the race pace from the front. closing stages, he turned down the revs and saved the engine. if things happen like this t/out the season, i see Massa, and not Kimster challenging for the title.

 

from autosport :

Ferrari believe that Kimi Raikkonen should have done a better job at the safety car restart in Bahrain on Sunday, after losing touch with the three cars ahead of him.

The safety car had been called out following Jenson Button's opening lap incident, and at the restart leaders Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all executed perfect getaways to cross the line closely grouped together.

Raikkonen, however, failed to capitalise on the situation and was 2.4 seconds adrift of Alonso when they crossed the start-finish line.

With Ferrari confirming that he had no problem with his car, technical director Mario Almondo has admitted that the Finn needs to improve his approach to the restarts.

"If you are not first or second you can always do a better job," said Almondo about Raikkonen's restart. "I have to say that he has to think of a better way of managing this specific start and this part of the job.

"We will re-analyse things and we will do the same this weekend. It's part of the enrichment of every driver and every technician who is part of the team."

Despite Ferrari's feelings about that specific incident, the team praised Raikkonen's calm approach to racing - and believe his position as joint championship leader reflects how well he is doing.

Stefano Domenicali, sporting director, said: "Kimi's best characteristic is that he's always cool, he's always looking behind the fence.

"He's not emotionally involved, at least, apparently, because he's a thinker and so you can see that.

"If you look at the numbers, Kimi's leading the championship with the others of course. But he's there, so that's his strength."

Ferrari have also praised the way that Massa put behind him the pressures caused by his mistakes in Malaysia last weekend to claim his first victory of the season.

"Felipe's strength was to react straight away from one week ago in Malaysia," explained Domenicali. "Everyone said that Felipe was no longer a driver.

"As always you need to look on average, and I think that he reacted very, very well and that shows his character.

"I think that he's grown a lot, because he wanted to show first to himself and also to all of us who he is.

"For sure, his strength is that he had a great reaction in terms of behaviour and approach to this race."

 

IMHO, because there's barely any passing involved. aside from Nick's, DC's the rest of the race was pure boring. the entire field looked like parading from lap to lap.