The 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread

[cmlean]

This is the place to discuss everything related to the 1st round of the 2023 season taking place in Bahrain between the 3rd and 5th of March.

The event timetable for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Friday
1st Practice 14:30 local time - 11:30 GMT
2nd Practice 18:00 local time - 15:00 GMT

Saturday
Practice 14:30 local time - 11:30 GMT
Qualifying 18:00 local time - 15:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 18:00 local time - 15:00 GMT

[cmlean]

After 3 days of preseason practice at the Bahrain circuit, it seems that the pecking order has been established. (In my opinion anyway)
1. Red Bull.
2. Ferrari.
3. Mercedes.
4. Aston Martin.
5. Alpine.
6. Haas.
7. Alfa Romeo.
8. McLaren.
9. AlphaTauri.
10. Williams.

Now comes the interesting part. All teams have had a chance to test their packages and, this weekend, their cards are on the table. There will be no holding back as the chase for points will be on in earnest when your car has an advantage.

This first event in the 2023 season will set the foundation for a successful seasons and heartache for others. Bring it on!

[cmlean]

FP1 Results

Code: Select all

Pos	Time		Driver		Team
1	1:32.758	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing
2	1:33.196	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
3	1:33.375	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
4	1:34.165	Lando Norris	McLaren
5	1:34.257	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
6	1:34.298	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
7	1:34.402	Kevin Magnussen	Haas
8	1:34.575	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo
9	1:34.689	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo
10	1:34.917	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
11	1:34.966	George Russell	Mercedes
12	1:34.997	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
13	1:35.015	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri
14	1:35.043	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
15	1:35.105	Esteban Ocon	Alpine
16	1:35.402	Nyck De Vries	AlphaTauri
17	1:35.455	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
18	1:35.749	Logan Sargeant	Williams
19	1:36.018	Alexander Albon	Williams
20	1:36.072	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari

[cmlean]

FP2 Results

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Pos	Time		Driver		Team
1	1:30.907	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
2	1:31.076	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
3	1:31.078	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing
4	1:31.367	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
5	1:31.376	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
6	1:31.450	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
7	1:31.475	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
8	1:31.543	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
9	1:31.570	Lando Norris	McLaren
10	1:31.586	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo
11	1:31.608	Esteban Ocon	Alpine
12	1:31.793	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo
13	1:31.882	George Russell	Mercedes
14	1:31.956	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari
15	1:32.024	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
16	1:32.110	Kevin Magnussen	Haas
17	1:32.440	Alexander Albon	Williams
18	1:32.525	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri
19	1:32.605	Nyck De Vries	AlphaTauri
20	1:32.749	Logan Sargeant	Williams

[cmlean]

What have we learned after day 1?

Aston Martin seem to have an impressive car for 2023.
Red Bull are still the team to beat.
Ferrari are there or there abouts.
Mercedes may have dropped back to number 4 in the rankings.
Alfa Romeo and Haas seem to made forward steps for 2023.
Alpine and McLaren will resume their on track rivalry in close proximity.
Williams are closer to the mid field.
AphaTauri haven't made too much progress.

[cmlean]

I'm always amused by the feedback from Lance Stroll and how uninformative it is.
He needs to be giving constructive feedback to the team to improve both the car and the driver's performance.
There have been many instances in previous seasons but I don't have them filed away.

I should start a new thread for 2023 recounting this.

For example from FP1.
Pits: "Feedback from Carlos is the brake balance ......" (Stroll talks over the rest of the message)
Lance: "Just let me drive the car."

I do understand that he has had wrist surgery which is why I have omitted his conversation from FP2 suggesting different ways of taking turns 1 and 2.

[cmlean]

FP3 Results

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Pos	Time		Driver		Team
1	1:32.340	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
2	1:32.345	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
3	1:32.446	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing
4	1:32.555	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
5	1:32.624	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
6	1:32.731	George Russell	Mercedes
7	1:32.919	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
8	1:32.945	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari
9	1:33.045	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
10	1:33.064	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
11	1:33.116	Esteban Ocon	Alpine
12	1:33.180	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo
13	1:33.202	Lando Norris	McLaren
14	1:33.381	Kevin Magnussen	Haas
15	1:33.423	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
16	1:33.475	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri
17	1:33.629	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo
18	1:33.665	Logan Sargeant	Williams
19	1:33.882	Alexander Albon	Williams
20	1:34.082	Nyck De Vries	AlphaTauri

[cmlean]

Qualifying

Code: Select all

Pos	Time		Driver		Team
1	1:29.708	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
2	1:29.846	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing
3	1:30.000	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
4	1:30.154	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari
5	1:30.336	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
6	1:30.340	George Russell	Mercedes
7	1:30.384	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
8	1:30.836	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
9	1:30.984	Esteban Ocon	Alpine
10	No Time		Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
________________________________________________________
11	1:31.381	Lando Norris	McLaren
12	1:31.443	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo
13	1:31.473	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo
14	1:32.510	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri
15	No Time		Alexander Albon	Williams
________________________________________________________
16	1:31.652	Logan Sargeant	Williams
17	1:31.892	Kevin Magnussen	Haas
18	1:32.101	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
19	1:32.121	Nyck De Vries	AlphaTauri
20	1:32.181	Pierre Gasly	Alpine

[cmlean]

The red flag came out early in Q1 when the right front wheel shroud broke on Charles Leclerc's Ferrari leaving debris on the track.
This disrupted many others who were on track ruining their first runs on new rubber.
Track limits caught many out erasing times throughout all 3 qualifying sessions.
Lance Stroll and Pierre Gasly most notably affected with a track times deleted and Stroll’s team also having to push the car back to the weighbridge after missing a late light in pit lane.

[cmlean]

Race

Code: Select all

Pos	Driver		Team
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
2	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing
3	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
4	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari
5	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
6	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
7	George Russell	Mercedes
8	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo
9	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
10	Alexander Albon	Williams
11	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri
12	Logan Sargeant	Williams
13	Kevin Magnussen	Haas
14	Nyck De Vries	AlphaTauri
15	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
16	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo
17	Lando Norris	McLaren
DNF	Esteban Ocon	Alpine
DNF	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
DNF	Oscar Piastri	McLaren

Next: Round of Saudi Arabia '23
Date: March 17th - 19th

[Tim]

The race was exciting thanks to Alonso's moves ... That was amazing to watch especially given his age!!

Other than that, it was disappointing to see both Ferrari and Mercedes unable to fix their problems from last year. It looks like it will be another Verstappen domination ... I doubt Perez will do (or be allowed to do) much about that.

Aston Martin say they have major updates coming still so they might be the only team that will get close to the Red Bulls. Ferrari can't fix their tyre deg problem and Mercedes will scrap their car concept and copy Red Bull.

McLaren seem to have taken a step back ... They lost Seidel, he was good

Alpine seems to be where they were last year

Alfa Romeo seem to have improved as so have Williams

Hulkenburg was impressive in the Haas in qualifying

Lets see what the next two races will bring ... hopefully (wishing for) closer racing at the front

[cmlean]

If the rule makers can find a way to hobble the Red Bulls, we would be in for an exciting season.

My thoughts are that we have 3 distinctive groups.
The Aston Martin/Mercedes/Ferrari group.
The Alfa Romeo/Haas/Renault group.
The Williams/AlphaTauri/McLaren group.

Given that there is so little between each, the slightest improvement will move you from an also ran to the leader of say the final 12 and in the points!