Pick the Podium: F1 - Bahrain

[IndyAndy]

Another solid qualy effort from Ricciardo - but he's got a 10 grid spot penalty from the last GP, so down the order he tumbles....

Mercedes looks strong again, & I'm thinking that The Iceman gets by Bottas & Perez, so...

MY PICKS:

Rosberg
Hamilton
Raikkonen

 

[Retroram52]

I'll take Rosberg, Hamilton, Perez.

 

[forty_three]

Hamilton
Rosberg
Bottas

 

[lakersrule]

Hamilton
Rosberg
Perez

 

[Retroram52]

Good call lakersrule.

 

[IndyAndy]

Man-o-man, I really thought that "Crashtor" Maldonado had gifted Rosberg a victory, but Hamilton drove his @ss off.

Also - lesson learned: Don't bet on red!

Here's how we did:

Retroram52 & Lakersrule: 10 points - got all three steps on the podium correct.
forty_three: 8 points - picked Hamilton to win & Rosberg 2nd.
IndyAndy: 2 points - got Hamilton & Rosberg out of position

Season Totals so far:

Retroram52: 16 points
Lakersrule: 15 points
forty_three: 8 points
IndyAndy: 7 points

NEXT UP: Shanghai, in two weeks.

 

[Retroram52]

Eh, Indy, I got my order incorrect. I had Rosberg, Hamilton, and Perez. My first two were incorrect. Thanks. See first post.

 

[IndyAndy]

Eh, Indy, I got my order incorrect. I had Rosberg, Hamilton, and Perez. My first two were incorrect. Thanks. See first post.

Doh!

Thanks for pointing that out. Let me try this again:

Retroram52: 4 points - got Perez in 3rd, Rosberg & Hamilton out of position

Retroram52: Season Total - 10 points.

 

[Retroram52]

Thanks!

 

[lakersrule]

Fun race. Nice to see some new blood on the podium.


Heck of a job by Hamilton holding off Rosberg. I'm not so sure there were any team orders for Rosberg to back off like I think it was Matchett thought there might have been. We didn't get to see their last few laps, but it seemed the only way Rosberg was catching up to Hamilton was in the DRS zones. Hamilton was always able to get a couple tenths back in sector 3 which didn't have a DRS zone.

 

[forty_three]

How did Bottas shank the start THAT badly?

 

[Retroram52]

Lakersrule. Rosberg had Hamilton on a number of occasions on laps 50-54. He passed him twice but Hamilton charged back and there was a mention that the team orders of bringing the cars home may have cooled Rosberg since even with the second place finish, he left Bahrain still leading in the points. Thereafter, Rosberg backed off and Hamilton took the win.

 

[lakersrule]

I don't know Retro. The order of bringing the cars home safely came during the safety car if I remember correctly. Rosberg was able to pass Hamilton after the restart but Hamilton was able to get him back, so I don't think Rosberg was necessarily quicker at the time. I think without the DRS zones, Rosberg couldn't stay close enough. Hamilton was faster in sector 3 which didn't have a DRS zone.


With all the action behind them, it's no wonder the coverage didn't get back to the them until the last turn. If Mercedes keeps this pace, they'll be tough to beat.

 

[Retroram52]

Mercedes does appear to have their stuff together with the Turbo Six way ahead of everyone else. Red Bull with Vettel is beginning to get some improvements going and they may come around. Right now though, Mercedes is way ahead.