2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Thread

wiredfalcon2 said:Nah, you're missing the point—go read an interview with the Paul Ricard director. Or better yet, look at how race organizers actually pull their funding together. It’s all just basic math, not whatever nonsense you're rambling about. Every infrastructure project today needs an investor, and those investors want their money back. For most tracks, hosting F1 is either a total money pit or just breaking even. Take Melbourne—without $30 million AUD from local authorities, that race is a bust, even if they're leading the season and the stands are packed. For places like Paul Ricard, having an F1 race is pure prestige—they use it as a pitch to sell the track to other racing series. They aren't just living off that one weekend; in fact, Hockenheim nearly went belly up, and now they've got Šoder.

12 positive cases in Bahrain

Formula 1 announced they found 12 positive Corona cases during last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

They ran about 8,150 tests between March 22nd and 28th—testing everyone from the drivers and crew to the support staff and media folks.

"We had 12 positive cases. The FIA and Formula 1 will be releasing this info after every Grand Prix to stay transparent while keeping the whole paddock safe," the Formula 1 statement said.

Two cases were confirmed within the Aston Martin team, and one person from the Channel 4 media crew also tested positive.

The Formula 1 season rolls on with the race at Imola on April 18th.

ruggedhawk20 said:Why bother reading some manifesto written by some track director? Every single weekend, I see a massive crowd of drivers showing up at Sedona. And that’s even with Corona in the mix!!!

Just get to the track. Any track. See what actually happens. Then come back and try to pass judgment.

neonfox65 said:Did Max get the shot?

We already know Lewis had Corona, so he's got the antibodies.

wiredfalcon2 said:It’s not about faking anything. It’s simply that building a track with gravel traps isn't cost-effective if it only serves one specific type of racing. Modern tracks are designed for multiple categories—some even semi-pro levels—where gravel and being too close to walls just don't work. Which new tracks are they building across America, let alone anywhere else, that feature gravel specifically for just one or two motorsport classes? Even the expensive stadiums being built today are multifunctional hubs for concerts, training, shopping centers, or cinemas... not just for a game played once every two weeks. This isn't about deception; it's basic economics.

Roger Wright94 said:I doubt the guidelines suggested people should just wander off-track whenever they feel like it.
What was actually communicated to drivers was that they wouldn't be penalized for going off at that specific spot. Essentially, if it happens...
There is a massive difference between an accidental excursion and intentionally leaving the track to gain a strategic advantage. Intentionality matters.

Roger Wright94 said:The FIA made a mistake that is now costing them dearly...

Richard Walker38 said:It wasn't just Lewis testing positive—a bunch of them dealt with it during the break. Leclerc, Gasly, Norris, Stroll plus Perez, and Hamilton at some point during the season... maybe a few others, I didn't catch everyone, but basically, they all caught it back in January 😬. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd say maybe they were advised to get it over with during the off-season just to stay clear for the season 😁
.
I know I read somewhere that Toto picked some up too, and even old man Stroll—lots of them, actually.

Honestly, I doubt the ones who didn't test positive weren't vaccinated—it's all handled through those private channels. If the little guys are scrambling for shots, then these guys definitely are too.

darkmarlin16 said:How many overtakes did Perez actually make?
And did anyone even pass him?

Tsunoda overtook Vettel 3 times.😁

But people only have something to say when he passes Alonso—guess he actually knows who he's passing.

Kid's gonna be great.🙂

Richard Walker38 said:I just don't get this. First, people claim Mercedes is so dominant that Hamilton had it easy getting to the title, then two sentences later they act like anyone could have won it. 🤷

Generally me, I don't get downplaying someone's success just because they're driving a great car. If we go by that logic, we should wipe out all of Vettel's titles at Red Bull Racing, erase Alonso's wins in that dominant R25, and maybe even toss Michael's titles at Ferrari too? If we're talking about pure dominance, Mercedes pulled in 44% more points in the constructors' standings during their peak season than the runner-up. In 2002, Ferrari beat the field by 59%.

wiredfalcon2 said:Man.

Is Sedona some brand-new, multi-purpose circuit? Nope.
Are those other brand-new tracks where they run Formula 1? Yeah.

Does Sedona meet Grade 1 standards, and will an F1 race ever actually happen there in this state? No way.
Do those new tracks on the F1 calendar satisfy those standards—even if they jack up the price ten times over? Absolutely.

Etc, etc, etc...

Comparing Sedona—which I rented for $67 just to drive my own car—to any modern F1 track by any metric just proves you have zero clue what you're talking about. Same goes for the idea that promoters want everyone to finish the race; the actual data shows the biggest reach and viewership come from races filled with DNFs and crashes.

You're wrong. Admit it—it’s the honorable thing to do—so just admit it. I'm done with this debate, so you don't need to keep quoting and replying.

Richard Walker38 said:I just don't get this. First, people claim Mercedes is so dominant that it was easy for Hamilton to cruise to the title, but then a few sentences later, they act like it’s nonsense to suggest anyone could actually contend for the championship. 🤷

Generally me, I find this dismissal of someone's success just because they're driving a superior car to be completely nonsensical. If we follow that logic, we might as well erase all of Vettel's titles at Red Bull Racing, wipe away Alonso's wins in that dominant R25, or just pretend Michael didn't win anything at Ferrari. If we're going to talk about pure dominance, let's look at the numbers: in their most dominant season, Mercedes pulled in 44% more points in the Constructors' Championship than the runner-up. In 2002, Ferrari outscored the next team by 59%.

wiredfalcon2 said:It’s just like soccer back in '92—goalies could grab the ball with their hands, then they changed the rules and now they can't. Same deal with this corner. There's no point bringing up examples from other races or different seasons when the rules weren't even the same back then. Max accepted the loss, Christian Horner accepted it, even Helmut Marko accepted it. But you just can't...

Hamilton vs Verstappen – The data that shows What was really happening in The cockpit during their Bahrain battle
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...B2yI0OnAd.html

neonfox65 said:

Whoa—look at what my buddies from the auto racing scene just sent me Same track, same corner, Lewis-Vettel situation—Lewis does the exact same thing when taking the turn and... nothing. No penalty. Honestly, this FIA...

And what exactly were they supposed to do? Wait for him to spin out just so they could let him pass? Good grief, the things you people come up with.