2013 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread

[CNR]

Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website

Red Bull’s Mark Webber will drop three places on the grid for next weekend’s 2013 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix after stewards penalised him for his collision with Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne in Sunday’s Shanghai race. And Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez will be demoted five grid places at Sakhir for his crash with Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

[steveaki13]

Damn. I was beaten to opening the next race thread.

Anyway I will still Preview it a bit. Hope no one minds.

As posted above we have the two grid penalties for Mark Webber and Esteban Gutierrez, while all drivers investigated for DRS use under yellow flags were cleared.

Drivers Championship after 3 Rounds

1. Sebastian Vettel - 52 pts[/*:m:37815746]
2. Kimi Raikkonen - 49 pts[/*:m:37815746]
3. Fernando Alonso - 43 pts[/*:m:37815746]
4. Lewis Hamilton - 40 pts[/*:m:37815746]
5. Felipe Massa - 30 pts[/*:m:37815746]
6. Mark Webber - 26 pts[/*:m:37815746]
7. Nico Rosberg - 12 pts[/*:m:37815746]
8. Jenson Button - 12 pts[/*:m:37815746]
9. Romain Grosjean - 11pts[/*:m:37815746]
10. Paul di Resta - 8 pts[/*:m:37815746]
11. Adrian Sutil - 6 pts[/*:m:37815746]
12. Daniel Ricciardo - 6 pts[/*:m:37815746]
13. Nico Hulkenberg - 5 pts[/*:m:37815746]
14. Sergio Perez - 2 pts[/*:m:37815746]
15. Jean Eric Vergne - 1 pt[/*:m:37815746]

Constructors Championship after 3 Rounds

1. Red Bull - 78 pts[/*:m:37815746]
2. Ferrari - 73 pts[/*:m:37815746]
3. Lotus - 60 pts[/*:m:37815746]
4. Mercedes - 52 pts[/*:m:37815746]
5. Force India - 14 pts[/*:m:37815746]
6. Mclaren - 14 pts[/*:m:37815746]
7. Toro Rosso - 7 pts[/*:m:37815746]
8. Sauber - 5 pts[/*:m:37815746]

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit.

19th-22nd April

57 Laps

Previous Winners
2004: Michael Schumacher
2005: Fernando Alonso
2006: Fernando Alonso
2007: Felipe Massa
2008: Felipe Massa
2009: Jenson Button
2010: Fernando Alonso
2011: Cancelled
2012: Sebastian Vettel


Most Wins
Fernando Alonso - 3 wins
Felipe Massa - 2 wins
Michael Schumacher - 1 win
Jenson Button - 1 win
Sebastian Vettel -1 win

*Who would bet against Alonso making it 4 wins.

Ferrari - 4 wins
Renault - 2 wins
Brawn - 1 win
Red Bull - 1 win


So there we go. Along with the usual distasteful politics that go with the Bahrain GP, it is also never a classic really. So we all wait to see what happens.

I wont be around unfortunately to watch it live though. I am off to Brands for some Truck Racing

[Whyzars]

Red Bull’s Mark Webber will drop three places on the grid for next weekend’s 2013 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix after stewards penalised him for his collision with Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne in Sunday’s Shanghai race. And Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez will be demoted five grid places at Sakhir for his crash with Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

Those penalties have got me a bit mystified.

If they aren't judged to be racing incidents then why the different penalty? Severity seems the obvious answer but Webber's hit on Vergne looked to be worse from a "could've been avoided" perspective.

Actually, I could be wrong but, I don't remember a 3 place penalty ever being handed down before.

[Ranger]

Bahraini police clash with Formula One protesters ? RT News

Bahraini police fired tear gas and sound bombs during clashes with demonstrators Friday who were gathered outside the capital Manama to protest the Formula One Grand Prix, which is being held in the country later this month.

The demonstrations began on Thursday night in the village of Kahmis, close to Manama; Human Rights Watch reported that pro-democracy activists were being rounded up by police.

The protesters chanted “Your race is a crime,” “Down with Hamad” in reference to the country’s king, and “The people want the fall of the regime,” the rallying cry of the Arab Spring, which rocked the region in 2011.

[henners88]

Heikki is back as reserve driver for Caterham this weekend driving in FP1.

Heikki Kovalainen is to return to Formula 1 action at the Bahrain Grand Prix in a testing role for Caterham.

Heikki Kovalainen rejoins Caterham as reserve driver - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

Nice to see him back and makes you wonder if he'll be offered a race seat by mid season? Seems mad to me having two rookies struggling when they have a guy with experience watching from the wings.

[steveaki13]

A bit strange for Heikki, they ditch him and he now feels like he should go and help them. Not sure I would.

[truefan72]

A bit strange for Heikki, they ditch him and he now feels like he should go and help them. Not sure I would.

TBH

I don't get it
although I think they made a mistake with firing both drivers
Petrov definitely deserved his seat and heikke seems to be better than these two guys now.
especially GeidoVdG.

but this move is an odd one for sure
still not high on Heikke though
Petrov probably had enough pride not to go back to them

[Koz]

Not too surprising. He has been seen around Caterham paddock several times this year...

I assume he just wants to be seen as much as possible. If an opportunity presents itself for a race, why not?

[truefan72]

Not too surprising. He has been seen around Caterham paddock several times this year...

I assume he just wants to be seen as much as possible. If an opportunity presents itself for a race, why not?

well several F1 outlets are stating that this is a real move to potentially replace one of the drivers. with a serous assessment coming in FP1 on Friday to see how he fairs against the current drivers.

[Tazio]

+

Two DRS zones for Bahrain Grand Prix

Two DRS zones will be in place at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix for the first time in its history, with governing body the FIA choosing to add to the pit-straight area.

This (two DRS zones) will play to Ferrari's strength IMHO

Edit: I understand that they have changed compound choices to hard and medium. This may play into RB or Mercedes strength. I better change my currently first place pickems
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22167807