Formula One ( F1 )

Sniff Petrol's take on the situation - http://sniffpetrol.com/2012/04/20/breivik-f1-is-go/

I see Bernie has made himself available at the racetrack. Not taking any questions, but making sure that he walks around in front of the cameras, trying to look as if everything is normal. Must have been seem pretty tooled up team that got him into the race compound. Damage limitation is not just for Ferrari this weekend.

Best to be a driver this weekend, or over the wall pit-crew.

Fireproof Suits

Nomex ftw

My worry is that a protester will get into the racing complex, and run onto the track, while the race is on.

Vettel on pole.......... I didn't see that on the cards.

My take on the qualifying results:

1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:32.422
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.520
3 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:32.637
4 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.711
5 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 1:32.821
6 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.912
7 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:33.008
8 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:33.394
9 Fernando Alonso Ferrari No time
10 Di Resta Force India-Mercedes No time
11 Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1:33.789
12 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:33.806
13 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:33.807
14 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:33.912
15 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1:34.017
16 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1:36.132
17 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 1:34.865
18 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:35.014
19 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1:35.823
20 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1:37.683
21 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1:37.883
22 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault No time
23 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1:37.905
24 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1:38.314

Good pole from Vettel. Unexpected. I think Hamilton will pass him, or egg him on into an error. Webber could get a podium, but its so tight, that I don't fancy his chances as much this weekend. Jenson should make the podium, if he doesn't suffer any technical failures. I don't think this will be Rosberg's race. Ricciardo shows Ferrari the type of driver they should really have, as second to Alonso. Grosjean drove like someone lit his strides afire. With Kimi breathing down his neck, he did really need to show his racing ability. Well done on that, as I didn't expect him to beat Kimi at all. Massa again, was very poor. He won't drive for Ferrari next year. He really is being shown up.

As for the race, it will be very tight. I think Mclarens have the better race pace than Red Bull, but that could be wrong, as Red Bull have stepped it up a bit. I see the race being close from start to finish. And, even better racing and wheel-to-wheel stuff than in the last race. Despite the politics, Bernie will be happy with the closeness of the racing. I don't know if Bahrain will host F1 next year though. Dicey.

I am disappoint. Really hope Hamilton gan get passed and stay passed him.

Didn't expect to see Kimi and Schumi to drop out like that!

Impressive run from Ricciardo!

For the sake of a few extra personal millions, Bernie is risking the name and the brand of F1. He will regret this, I'm sure of it.

And the government of Bahrain will count the cost of lost tourism, and lost investment. What a balls up.

Is Bahrain really a destination where people choose to holiday?!

That's like saying you're off for a long weekend in Yemen.

Judging by the reports of empty grandstands yesterday, the tourism angle hasn't been that successful.

Total disaster of a weekend for all concerned.

Total disaster of a weekend for all concerned.

Except for the protestors who have put their issues front and centre. Well done to them.

Judging by the reports of empty grandstands yesterday, the tourism angle hasn't been that successful.

Total disaster of a weekend for all concerned.

Bahrain has always been a track with completely empty grandstands so as far as that's concerned there has been no change. I'll catch the highlights later but as usual in Bahrain, that may as well last for about 3 minutes as it consistently fails to provide any form of entertaining racing.

Don't want to sound all tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist but there is no footage of DiResta's qualifying attempts yesterday, could this be Mr Ecclestone getting his own back for them not listening to him and pulling out of fp 2? Also the sky coverage is gash.

Except for the protestors who have put their issues front and centre. Well done to them.

Apart from the one who's dead. And very few in the West will care once the circus is out of town.

Bahrain has always been a track with completely empty grandstands so as far as that's concerned there has been no change. I'll catch the highlights later but as usual in Bahrain, that may as well last for about 3 minutes as it consistently fails to provide any form of entertaining racing.

It could actually be quite interesting; the track temp is dropping, the wind has picked right up, and a few drops of rain have been felt round the track.

Still a shit circuit.

Sky coverage is still shit.

Is Bahrain really a destination where people choose to holiday?!.

http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article369479.ece

Maybe not the tourists you were thinking of?

McLaren are having a 'mare. But in other news, can Kimi win this?!

So close!

McLaren are having a 'mare.

It gets worse!!!

Well done Lotus......though Renault must be kicking themselves for pulling out last year.
Funny, the same thing happened when Honda pulled out.......success.

Paul Di Resta had some race, finishing above 4 World Champions (Jenson retired).

Placings and points scored

6 Paul Di Resta Force India-Mercedes 8
7 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 6
8 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 4
9 Felipe Massa Ferrari 2
10 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 1

The overall Drivers Championship is even closer!

1 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 36
2 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 35
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 35
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 34
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 33

Wow, much more interesting race than i'd expected! But my Mercedes predictions were spot on, great to see Massa actually racing for a change. Also Rosberg needs to sort that extreme defending out. Even Schumacher leaves enough room for a car when he's doing that. Didn't anyone else think Vettel's block on Kimi was a bit rash? I always thought moving around in the braking zone was a no no.

I can't remember if it's one or two changes of direction that are permitted.

One

I thought it was a great race by Bahrain standards. Really glad the Lotus is showing what it can do and give the other top tems a proper run for their money. Bit gutted Kimi didn't get passed Vettel. I'm sure a win will come soon for Kimi though, and Romain too.
McLaren really need to sort their game out.

I don't know why some of you are bitching about the Sky coverage - it's bloody good imo.

Im well impresed by Sky coverage.
The fact that Jake Humphreys isnt involved is worth the extra £120 a year i pay them alone.

Kimi has shown he has lost zero racing edge, and Lotus are showing their car is knocking on top tier status.

The season is a lot of racdes, and i cant see Lotus doing much more better than Bahrain.
I'd like to see Kimi get a win, but i think chances are gonna be slim pickings now.

Its arguable, but I think rally driving kept Kimi sharper than Schumey, in retirement. Rally driving at the top level requires concentration and reaction abilities that sometimes exceed Formula 1 requirements. I think Kimi can win one this year. He's getting better and better every race, whereas the others are doing more or less as expected.....Daniel Ricciardo excepted.

I agree that if Mclaren doesn't get some good updates soon, they will be playing catch up. Even Ferrari have turned the corner.

I can't remember if it's one or two changes of direction that are permitted.

It's not so much the number of changes in direction, but I remember drivers getting penalties for moving around in the braking zone.

Its arguable, but I think rally driving kept Kimi sharper than Schumey, in retirement. Rally driving at the top level requires concentration and reaction abilities that sometimes exceed Formula 1 requirements. I think Kimi can win one this year. He's getting better and better every race, whereas the others are doing more or less as expected.....Daniel Ricciardo excepted.

I agree that if Mclaren doesn't get some good updates soon, they will be playing catch up. Even Ferrari have turned the corner.

I don't doubt that Kimi can win a race, but I wouldn't put that down to Kimi's rallying (which wasn't a fantastic success if we're being honest), but that Lotus/Renault/Genii/Lada whatever they're calling it these days is a fantastic car. The Mercedes isn't really a race-winning car yet, not as bad as the Ferrari but in the same league.