Bahrain GP 2013 - QF

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ferrari and Lotus were the cars to watch today. Massa and Raikkonen were fastest in P1 & P2 respectively, and they look to have the tyre-usage advantage ahead of Red Bull. Mercedes has gone one step back compared to earlier races and will actually struggle to beat Force India this weekend. McLaren has lost ground too, they probably not even make it to Q3. They had never won in Bahrain.

P1- MAS (1.34.487)  ALO  ROS  VET  DIR  BUT  WEB  SUT  RAI  GRO

P2- RAI  (1.34.154)  WEB  VET  ALO  DIR  MAS  GRO  ROS  SUT  HAM

It all points to a battle between Lotus and Ferrari for Sunday’s race, both chassis are getting the most consistency with both compounds on race fuel-loads simulation and had no problems setting quick times on single lap set-up with the options.  The Pirelli rubber is nowhere as marginal as last week’s tyre choice in China.

Red Bull is not strong on the medium-options, they grip level fading after 4 or 5 laps short of their main rivals which will make them very weak in the opening stint. With the high corner loads and braking stability required in Sahkhir the Red Bulls are going to be quick in QF and they will try to get to the front to compensate their possible disadvantage on race trim, particularly in the case of Webber that will have to serve a 3 grid penalty for his collision with Vergne during the Chinese GP. Webber has never been to the podium in this race.

Will this be another lottery-QF? probably. The polesitter has won half the 8 Bahrain GPs; no one has won it from lower than the 2 front rows.

Let me go first: Cato VET  RAI  ALO.

Your turn. the wedsite is ready

 Good luck!

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