[petrohead]

Four races in five weeks – the 2009 F1 season is off to a hectic start.

Bahrain is the last of the opening series of ‘flyaway’ races and, after two rain-affected Grands Prix, we’re likely to see a much more normal race at the desert circuit. (Temp is expected to be 30C +).

The Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to be held on 24-26 April 2009 in the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir.

Friday 24th April - First practice and Second practice
Saturday 25th April -Third practice and Qualifying
Sunday 26th April -The Race

Track information :






Length - 5.412km
Race distance - 57 lap / 308.238km
Full throttle - 63%
Top speed - 309kph
Longest flat-out section - 14s / 1.05km
Right/left-hand turns - 9/6
Tyre wear - Medium
Brake wear - High
Downforce level - Medium
Gearshifts per lap - 58
2009 tyre compounds: medium, super-soft
2008 tyre compounds: medium, soft


I expect Bahrain to be the right venue for Vettel and Button. Sebastian Vettel was 40 seconds ahead of Jenson Button at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix. How far will Vettel and Button perform in this dry track ?

Button complained about the difficulty of getting heat into his tyres at Shanghai and also struggled with it at Melbourne. With a hot track tyre temperature might not be a problem.

With the diffuser rules now ‘clarified’ Brawn have to make hay while the sun shines – some teams have already brought revised rear undertrays (McLaren, Renault) and others are readying them for the Spanish Grand Prix (Ferrari). Red Bull achieved their maiden one-two without superstar designer Adrian Newey present in Shanghai. He had been left in Milton Keynes, beavering away on a revised rear end design to. How much quicker will the RB5 be once he’s done?

KERS!
In China, Renault and Ferrari ditched KERS, Robert Kubica discarded the device after running it in testing. Only Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen and Nick Heidfeld used it during the race.

The other downside to KERS is greater instability under braking, Bahrain is one of the most punishing tracks for the brakes. How many teams will accept these performance penalties in order to gain those useful extra power boosts down Bahrain’s many straights?

What change will bahrain see ?
In the last race in China, RB5 got a rear footplate hole to boost the downforce, MP4-24 got a new front wing to improve the aerodynamic balence, BGP001 got a underslung rear brake calliper and a rear diffuser layout and the TF109 got a triple deck diffuser. What will bahrain see ?

Resources:
The Official Formula 1 Website
F1 Fanatic - The Formula 1 Blog | F1 video | F1 pictures | F1 news | Lewis Hamilton | Fernando Alonso

[HKS]

What are your predictions for this weekend?
Last race before going to Europe.

Many teams will use the new diffuser in Europe.

[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by petrohead

What change will bahrain see ?
In the last race in China, RB5 got a rear footplate hole to boost the downforce, MP4-24 got a new front wing to improve the aerodynamic balence, BGP001 got a underslung rear brake calliper and a rear diffuser layout and the TF109 got a triple deck diffuser. What will bahrain see ?

If I am not mistaken McLaren also get a new rear diffusor (not the complete 3D but atleast 1.5 D).

Ferrari should run KERS on this track, atleast on 1 car.

[GTO]

Well said, Button better make hay while the sun shines; the other teams are going to catch up within a handful of races! I can't wait to see how RBR performs with their new diffuser.

I have said it before and will say it again : Let's have a clean fast dry race now. 'Nuff of the wets!

[ported_head]

These F1 teams have super turnaround times. I'd expect the racing to get really close in the next couple of events. Does KERS become mandatory from next season on? Unless so, there is no real reason for teams to be running KERS this season as the cons are clearly outweighing the pros.

I quite enjoy a wet race. To see a single seater, demonstrate so much grip and performance on standing water is overwhelming, to say the least.

[pulsar56]

I will be missing this race as I will be traveling

Well said, Button better make hay while the sun shines; the other teams are going to catch up within a handful of races!

+1 to that. But, Ferrari are not expected to catch up until Turkey!

I have said it before and will say it again : Let's have a clean fast dry race now. 'Nuff of the wets!

We only had two wet races out of three. All other races are expected to be dry unless there is an exception where the Rain Clouds decide to add to the fun!

[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by pulsar56

I will be missing this race as I will be traveling

+1 to that. But, Ferrari are not expected to catch up until Turkey!

We only had two wet races out of three. All other races are expected to be dry unless there is an exception where the Rain Clouds decide to add to the fun!

Ferrari is expecting to introduce a new floor and DD Diffusor by the Spain GP.

Had an overload of wet races already but we can expect more wet races at Silverstone, Spa ad maybe even Monaco but I'd rather hope them to be dry especially Spa.

[speedzak]

It's hailstorming here in Bangalore. May god save Bahrain.

I am watching how Ferrari will perform this weekend.

[Rocky_Balboa]

I dont see any better performance from Ferrari, this weekend.
Reliability is their weakest point, amidst everything/everyone else.

PS: Wish they can turn it around, much much faster.

[HKS]

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry

If I am not mistaken McLaren also get a new rear diffusor (not the complete 3D but atleast 1.5 D).

Ferrari should run KERS on this track, atleast on 1 car.

Yes, Hamilton's car had an intermediate diffuser.

Originally Posted by GTO

Well said, Button better make hay while the sun shines; the other teams are going to catch up within a handful of races! I can't wait to see how RBR performs with their new diffuser.

I have said it before and will say it again : Let's have a clean fast dry race now. 'Nuff of the wets!

RBR has to redesign most of its car if it has to fit the new diffuser. Adrian Newey has designed the car so well, that it won the race even though it had the diffuser without double deck.

Originally Posted by ported_head

These F1 teams have super turnaround times. I'd expect the racing to get really close in the next couple of events. Does KERS become mandatory from next season on? Unless so, there is no real reason for teams to be running KERS this season as the cons are clearly outweighing the pros.

I quite enjoy a wet race. To see a single seater, demonstrate so much grip and performance on standing water is overwhelming, to say the least.

I agree with you.
btw your Priyank right?
Howz FSAE going?

[petrohead]

Originally Posted by ported_head

Does KERS become mandatory from next season on? Unless so, there is no real reason for teams to be running KERS this season as the cons are clearly outweighing the pros.

Nope, KERS is not mandatory (as of what i know now, fia is unpredictable), but can help one gain vital advantage.

Most of the teams stoped using KERS because of the new and better tyres developed by Brigstone which deliver better grip and performance than earlier versions.

The FIA have been looking on ways how to reduce aerodynamic dependency and increase mechanical grip. After several tests during 2008, the FIA decided to re-allow slick tyres as of 2009 after 10 years of grooved tyres. One year earlier, GP2 also made the same move, stressing that motorsport should go back in time to improve competition.

I quite enjoy a wet race. To see a single seater, demonstrate so much grip and performance on standing water is overwhelming, to say the least.

I share the same feeling. A car has its beauty when wet (in the rain), i love to see the water droplets go around the tyre.

[anachronix]

Wet races are good! But 2/3 races being wet race, its just too boring.

The Iceman

[pulsar56]

Originally Posted by anachronix

Wet races are good! But 2/3 races being wet race, its just too boring.

The Iceman

LOL! Who can say that he's the Iceman after that pic!

it's just 2/3. There are lots of dry races coming up! But I like Rain & Schumi behind the wheels of a Ferrari!

[anachronix]

Felipe Baby

How about some nice quote for this picture?

[petrohead]

Too bad they dont show it in star sports.

Legend : Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps

1 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.647 19
2 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:33.907 0.260 17
3 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:33.938 0.291 17
4 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:34.227 0.580 24
5 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.434 0.787 15
6 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.502 0.855 24
7 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:34.531 0.884 18
8 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.589 0.942 17
9 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:34.827 1.180 21
10 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:34.827 1.180 19
11 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:34.880 1.233 24
12 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:34.938 1.291 21
13 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:34.974 1.327 21
14 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:35.021 1.374 18
15 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:35.036 1.389 22
16 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:35.042 1.395 16
17 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:35.333 1.686 20
18 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:35.348 1.701 24
19 11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:35.353 1.706 22
20 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:35.369 1.722 15