Re: Formula 1 : 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir (March 26 - 28 2021) What a start! If qualifying is an indication we are in for a fantastic season. 8 manufacturers in the top ten. Qualification Report
For a change the most consistent car on the grid looks to be the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. He was doing all weekend what the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton was doing druing the weekends of the past seasons. Busy clinically nailing the top of the leaderboard. Excellent lap to nail pole especially after the damage to his floor riding the kerbs on Q1.
It would have been easier for Red Bull to have Sergio Perez somewhere at the front to the grid to counter the two Mercedes but it is now a familiar situation for Red Bull of not having their number two driver in a strong position for the race. But we have seen Perez fight from the back no later than the 2020 season finale at Abu Dhabi and he manages his tyres extremely well. Race pace in practice was good too so he should be able to take the fight to the Mercs in the race.
Looking at the starting grid we have Leclerc, Riccardo, Gasly and Sainz in the top ten. These are all fast starters so we may see a few muggings at the start I hope which is going to really put pressure on the leaders at the start. Let's not forget old man Alonso who dragged the Alpine into Q3. He never left it seems.
Riccardo though outshined by his teammate in Q1 and Q2 nailed it where it mattered and out qualified his teammate with both McLaren's in the top ten.
Ferrari can heave a cautious sigh of relief as it seems that they are off to a good start after the nightmare of a season last year. Leclerc even topped the leaderboard in Q2 in between before getting knowcked off. But with Leclerc at P4 and Sainz in P8 they seem to be in a strong position.
Vettel was unlucky to have yellow trouble having his laps spoilt by double yellow flags. Hopefully that is the issue because the last thing he would want is to be outqualified by his younger teammate let alone being so far out of position. Hopefully he can make up grounds during the race itself. Tyre strategy during the races itself seems to call for a two stop strategy running mediums in the first stint followed by hards if last years Bahrain results are to go by. Quote:
There are many two-stop strategies that are similar in terms of overall time, but the quickest one in theory goes as follows: two stints on the P Zero Yellow medium tyre of 18 laps each, plus one central stint on the P Zero White hard of 21 laps: set to be the strategy for all those who set their best Q2 times on this tyre.
The second-quickest two-stopper instead uses all three compounds: the soft for 14 laps, the hard for 24 laps. and the medium for the final 19-lap stint.
A soft-medium-medium strategy is slightly slower: this would use the soft for 15 laps and then two sets of mediums for 21 laps each.
Another two-stopper uses two 16-lap soft tyre stints and one 25-lap hard stint (probably as the middle stint). This last strategy can be a favourable one with cooler conditions. In terms of overall time, that's similar to the above – and, as always, all permutations are possible. Link | High rake v/s low rake
It seems that the aero regulations especially at the back of the car has negatively affected the low rake cars which are primarily the Mercedes powered cars while the high rake cars of the likes on Red Bull and Ferrari have it better. Both Mercedes and Aston martin have openly commented on this. As we have seen McLaren have stole a march over the others with their rear diffuser concept that I am sure will be quickly copied all over the field. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...ction/5940840/ https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/n...artin/5941007/
Whatever said it seems to be taking F1 in the right direction so it must be the right move.
Drive on,
Shibu. |