Bahrain GP: Practice1/2/3 *Spoilers*

Kimi said the Ferrari was about 1 second off the pace, now looking more like it's 2+ (but then again this is only practice). Hope things improve over the weekend.

Carol

 

Vettel now quick.

 

That Ferrari seems awful to drive,
it's like everyone improves but us...

 

Ferrari supposedly has a good deal of updates coming for Spain. I imagine they canceled all small revisions while there were working on the much bigger upgrade package. I mean, gaining one tenth at this point would be fruitless...they have a lot of work to do.

Mark

 

Sutil up to 4th on super soft tires, I wonder how much fuel load?

 

The ghosting images are fantastic..

 

Force India commercial director Ian Phillips on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra: "When Kers goes wrong, the smell is absolutely obnoxious - as happened to Kimi Raikkonen in Malaysia. It lingered for a long time after Raikkonen's failure in Friday practice."

BBC pit-late reporter Holly Samos: "If you look at the back of Lewis's car, you'll notice the exhausts are slightly different shapes. The reason is for the different cooling requirements for oil and water."

Massa 11th and Kimi just went 12th.

 

The super imposing of cars that Speed is showing is quite nice.

 

Could the change in the wing plates on the Williams be a factor is Nico showing in first? It would stand to reason.

 

Ros fastest 1.33.339
Trulli
Vettel
Button

 

Renault engineering director Pat Symonds: "This is a very hard circuit on tyres so we've done a lot of high fuel running. We've found the rear tyres are very marginal - they're running pretty hot and giving up quite quickly. We want to see where we're running in the race. Alonso being 20th doesn't surprise us. You'll probably see a big jump-up later on."

Then:

1315: Jenson Button has the super-softs on his Brawn and that moves him up to fourth. And Fernando Alonso must have dumped some fuel. The former world champ has popped up in fifth.

 

Ros
FA
Tru
Vet
Web
But

 

1327: Renault boss Flavio Briatore nods in approval as Fernando Alonso goes up to second with a 1:33.339, going quickest of all in the first and third sections.

1324: To add insult to injury, it emerges that Kimi Raikkonen was fined 4000 euros for speeding in the pit lane this morning. Shame he can't produce that pace on the track.

Massa 16, Kimi 18!!!

 

Position Country Driver Team
1 Germany N Rosberg Williams
2 Spain F Alonso Renault
3 Italy J Trulli Toyota
4 Germany S Vettel Red Bull
5 Australia M Webber Red Bull
6 Great Britain J Button Brawn
7 Germany A Sutil Force India
8 Germany T Glock Toyota
9 Brazil R Barrichello Brawn
10 Japan K Nakajima Williams
11 Great Britain L Hamilton McLaren
12 Italy G Fisichella Force India
13 Switzerland S Buemi Toro Rosso
14 France S Bourdais Toro Rosso
15 Brazil N Piquet Jr Renault
16 Brazil F Massa Ferrari
17 Poland R Kubica BMW Sauber
18 Finland K Raikkonen Ferrari
19 Finland H Kovalainen McLaren
20 Germany N Heidfeld BMW Sauber

Is this going to be the 4th race with no points?

 

Looks like some BIG teams have some homework to do before tomorrow's qualifying.

Carol

 

Force India do Ferrari!

 

if thats the case that has never happened before for Ferrari!

 

OMG - Inside GP is doing a thing about Buemi - what a place he has in Bahrain (and for only 20 years old)....the Sheik who is COO of the circuit has been following him for many years. Great things for the only F1 rookie this year.

Carol

 

Holy ****, seriously, Force india quickest than Ferrari !?
Not having any points was already embarrassing, but at this point it's becoming ridiculous.
are we going backwards?

Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari F60 1'32''102 that's was this winter when testing in the same track.

 

True. This could be a record-breaking year for all the wrong reasons! I think the race strategy should be:
'Stay out of trouble. Trundle round and hope lots of cars fall off the track'
I can't see us getting points by racing for them - this strategy should suit Kimi as it's been his style for the last 12 months anyway!

 

Aggregate times for both practices:


Bahrain GP: Friday aggregate times

24/04/2009

Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1 Rosberg Williams 1:33.339 129.704 mph
2 Alonso Renault 1:33.530 0.191
3 Trulli Toyota 1:33.616 0.277
4 Hamilton McLaren 1:33.647 0.308
5 Vettel Red Bull 1:33.661 0.322
6 Webber Red Bull 1:33.676 0.337
7 Button Brawn GP 1:33.694 0.355
8 Sutil Force India 1:33.763 0.424
9 Glock Toyota 1:33.764 0.425
10 Barrichello Brawn GP 1:33.885 0.546
11 Nakajima Williams 1:33.899 0.560
12 Heidfeld BMW 1:33.907 0.568
13 Kubica BMW 1:33.938 0.599
14 Fisichella Force India 1:34.025 0.686
15 Buemi Toro Rosso 1:34.127 0.788
16 Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:34.366 1.027
17 Piquet Renault 1:34.411 1.072
18 Kovalainen McLaren 1:34.502 1.163
19 Massa Ferrari 1:34.564 1.225
20 Raikkonen Ferrari 1:34.670 1.331

Embarrassing!

 

Maybe Ferrari should quit having those wine and cheese parties before practice.

 

same conditions as today? was the car in complete 09 legal spec? If so we *may* stand a chance...

 

I think Ferrari is playing it cool here. They were the fastest and most consistent team here over winter testing. Watch Massa fly for tomoro's quali!

 

I hope you're right, Brian.