2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Don't think Perez will be there at the end. I expect him to fall down the list by race end.

What a race! Great to see a team let their drivers race right to the end. A couple of teams need to take note. And go Ricciardo!!!

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Got to say Nico doesn't look too happy, I wonder if he was told to back off?

Maybe, or he just didn't have enough in the car over the last lap or two.
I thought Lewis' body language after qualification was a little subdued after being beaten to pole so it doesn't necessarily mean a lot.

They are two competitive people and both want to win. They both have egos and things they want to prove, to others and to themselves.

Perez and Hulkenberg are the same, as are Bottas and Massa.
As long as the teams give them equal treatment it will be an interesting season....

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Maybe, or he just didn't have enough in the car over the last lap or two.
I thought Lewis' body language after qualification was a little subdued after being beaten to pole so it doesn't necessarily mean a lot.

They are two competitive people and both want to win. They both have egos and things they want to prove, to others and to themselves.

Perez and Hulkenberg are the same, as are Bottas and Massa.
As long as the teams give them equal treatment it will be an interesting season....

Nico made it quite clear in the podium interview that he didn't like finishing behind Lewis.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by MCWB

Maldonado... Does he get a holiday for that? Surely a large amount of penalty points.

I vote holiday.

[Tucky]

Who wants to start a bet? How many races before Maldonado collects all 12 points.

[chunterer]

A shame Pastor blotted his copybook in such a way as he was driving a great race for the current level of that car and got a bit desperate coming out the pits?

Gutierrez radio call was classic:"what the hell was that!?"

We haven't seen a performance advantage like those Mercedes since 2002 or the FW14B. Staggering speed and poise those things have.

Great scrap though, Lewis and Nico need a damn hard fight to bring the best out of them.

Checo drove a stormer for 3rd and Hulk's radio complaint after Perez got him when Massa baulked the German was utter bs, didn't think he was that kind of driver.

Red Bull is looking very, very interesting now. So Vettel had an issue but it genuinely looks like he has a teammate that can match him every race.

[aki13]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Who wants to start a bet? How many races before Maldonado collects all 12 points.

IMO he should be at least half way there after today, but its only 3 points for that.

Anyway I reckon he will get there by race 13.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Checo drove a stormer for 3rd and Hulk's radio complaint after Perez got him when Massa baulked the German was utter bs, didn't think he was that kind of driver.

They're all that kind of driver.

Lewis, Mark (albeit no longer) and Fernando are exceptions possibly, but even they have/had their moments.

[Razzzor]

Almost 25 secs in 10 laps, that's 2.5s a lap faster than the rest of the field. Damn. When's the last time there was a car more dominant? The Schumacher years? I don't think Seb has ever had that much of an advantage.

[TrapezeArtist]

I'm surprised at both the penalty and the vitriol for Maldonado. I have previously described him as an animal, and no-one will ever accuse me of being a fan, but I thought he was innocent. He drove in a straight line from the pit exit to the corner, and at the point of impact he was following a sensible line around the corner. There was no sign of him slithering straight on.

Gutierrez clearly didn't see Maldonado (carp F1 mirrors) but the team should have told him there was a car there. You can't just drive straight at the apex and expect the car inside to evaporate.

[Knowlesy]

Maldonado was totally to blame IMO. He is rejoining the track, it is mainly his responsibility to ensure he does so safely.

The rather spectacular result made him look a lot worse though, probably!

[MarkG]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Almost 25 secs in 10 laps, that's 2.5s a lap faster than the rest of the field. Damn. When's the last time there was a car more dominant? The Schumacher years? I don't think Seb has ever had that much of an advantage.

maybe, I haven't checked, but the 2. or 1.5, or 1 sec he had was still plenty enough advantage in modern F1.

[Knowlesy]

That and having a completely uncompetitive teammate, however that situation came about.

[Teretonga]

Maldonado drove out of the pits down the inside, straight down to the apex because he's actually not allowed to cross over the while line on the pit exit. What he did is not the most conventional way but Pastor has never been conventional.

Gutierrez would never have seen him and he would never have appeared in his mirrors. That's why he was totally oblivious to him.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Maldonado drove out of the pits down the inside, straight down to the apex because he's actually not allowed to cross over the while line on the pit exit. What he did is not the most conventional way but Pastor has never been conventional.

Gutierrez would never have seen him and he would never have appeared in his mirrors. That's why he was totally oblivious to him.

Evidently, Maldonado wasn't oblivious to Gutierrez.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Evidently, Maldonado wasn't oblivious to Gutierrez.

Or perhaps he was. Who knows what goes through that man's head. A seriously scary individual.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Or perhaps he was. Who knows what goes through that man's head. A seriously scary individual.

That's why he should get 'Retard of the Race', imho....just saying.

[Tucky]

I've watched it back a number of times and I still think it's Maldonado's fault. Rejoining the circuit on "cold" tyres and he still tries to lunge his car down the inside of Gutierrez who is at racing speed and a car length ahead at the corner.

[Kempi]

Originally Posted by Tucky

I've watched it back a number of times and I still think it's Maldonado's fault. Rejoining the circuit on "cold" tyres and he still tries to lunge his car down the inside of Gutierrez who is at racing speed and a car length ahead at the corner.

Still? Is there any option that could change? He never was in any position to challenge Guttierez in that corner.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Kempi

Still? Is there any option that could change? He never was in any position to challenge Guttierez in that corner.

wasn't Maldonado wrong anyway because he came out of the pits?

[Malfunction Junction]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

I'm surprised at both the penalty and the vitriol for Maldonado. I have previously described him as an animal, and no-one will ever accuse me of being a fan, but I thought he was innocent. He drove in a straight line from the pit exit to the corner, and at the point of impact he was following a sensible line around the corner. There was no sign of him slithering straight on.

Gutierrez clearly didn't see Maldonado (carp F1 mirrors) but the team should have told him there was a car there. You can't just drive straight at the apex and expect the car inside to evaporate.

Take another look. He was given a car width at the apex and still managed to drop kick Gutierrez out of the race.

I'm amazed he was allowed to complete the event. It's been a long time since a black flag was issued during a race, but that particular piece of boneheaded buffoonery was worthy.

[JamesH]

Re: Maldonado.

Looking at his line in to the corner, he was on a racing line from the Pit exit. However, that simply isn't the same as the racing line you would take normally. They cross just after the apex. The problem is, Maldonado was sighted, Gutierrez wasn't and Maldonado should have known that the two lines were 'incompatible' and not gone for a gap that simply wasn't there.

The fact he hit the other car at about 90degs' in the sidepod, means he deserved everything he got.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Malfunction Junction

Take another look. He was given a car width at the apex and still managed to drop kick Gutierrez out of the race.

I'm amazed he was allowed to complete the event. It's been a long time since a black flag was issued during a race, but that particular piece of boneheaded buffoonery was worthy.

I'm wary of finding myself backed into a "Maldonado Fanboy" corner here because there have been many times when I thought Maldonado was out of order and got away with a light or no penalty. It's just that this time I think the opposite has happened.

I will take some more looks but I ran through it several times last night and Gutierrez seemed to me to go straight to the apex with no car width left for Maldonado. If he had left a car width, that would suggest he knew Maldonado was there and wouldn't have made the radio comment that he did.

[Knowlesy]

Even if Gutierrez had driven into the runoff, Maldonado would still have come close to hitting him.

[steve_r]

Maldonado was trying a cheap overtake, but it went badly wrong. I think he deserved some kind of penalty, but it was not one of his terrible "red mist" moments thankfully.