2008 Bahrain GP preview: predictions
3rd April 2008, 22:10 by Keith Collantine 46 Comments »
What are your predictions for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Here’s who I think will win – place your bets below…
I think Bahrain will be the first race where we see a straight fight between Ferrari and McLaren without the mayhem we saw at Melbourne or the penalties at Sepang getting in the way.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Ferraris lining up on the front row of the grid with the McLarens on the second, unless BMW are going to try their aggressive low-fuel first stint strategy again.
Felipe Massa just can’t make the kind of mistakes he’s made in the last two races but I think he will play it conservatively just to get some points on the board. That will allow Lewis Hamilton into second place – but I don’t think he’s going to be able to keep up with Kimi Raikkonen.
Despite their troubles at Sepang I’m not writing off Williams yet – I think Nico Rosberg will qualify inside the top ten and drivers like him, Jarno Trulli and Mark Webber are going to be headache for Fernando Alonso who’s Renault just doesn’t seem to be quick enough yet. Bringing the car home in the top eight will be an achievement for the former champion.
My top three prediction:
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
What’s yours?
Gman said on 3rd April 2008, 22:13
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Heidfeld
Massa will bring home some points, but BMW continues their string of podiums and keeps the championship race close.
bigotez said on 3rd April 2008, 22:45
I’m going out on a limb here and say:
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Kovalainen
I don’t think Massa will get it this time either. Sand + No TC = not a good place for Felipinho
Fer no.65 said on 3rd April 2008, 22:48
Realistic:
1.- Raikkonen
2.-Hamilton
3.-Massa/Kova
but i think another 2nd place for Nick won’t be a big surprise… I really hope he’ll make into the podium again, or at least Kubica.
verasaki said on 3rd April 2008, 22:54
1. kovalainen
2. hamilton
3. heidfeld
Becken said on 3rd April 2008, 22:56
Good Keith, Let’s talk a little about race. Last year Lewis followed Felipe all through the first stint and in some laps has done some pressure making fastest laps. I´m not convinced yet that the two teams have switched their 2007 tracks high performance as someone’s has suggested. So, I think that Felipe will fail in his confidence in Bahrain leaving Kimi alone in field. And McLaren could fight Kimi in a fuel strategy to beat him using his two boys. I think McLaren is going to win then: – Lewis – Kimi – Heikki
frecon said on 3rd April 2008, 23:11
1. Massa
2. Kimi
3. Kubica
Risky prediction (i know)
F1Punter said on 3rd April 2008, 23:12
Kimi
Hamilton
Rosberg
Trulli in the points.
francois said on 3rd April 2008, 23:14
Thing with last year is that I seem to remember Lewis wasn’t too bad in the first/last stint but he struggled with his tyres in the middle (were they hard or softs?) .Otherwise he could have probably beat Massa and I agree with Becken that not a lot has changed in terms of Ferrari/McLaren tracks but I think the differences between the two are much less.
I’m going to suggest Felipe to take the pole but for Hamilton to win the race , Raikonnen will be second and possibly Kovy for third place…
Toncho said on 3rd April 2008, 23:15
1 – Raikonen
2 – kovalainen
3 – hamilton
Gman said on 3rd April 2008, 23:25
Frecon, that may indeed be bold, but I like it. I was thinking either of the BMW drivers in third- Heidfeld just came to mind first for me.
TommyBellingham said on 4th April 2008, 0:33
Kimi
Massa
Hamilton
Franck Favennec said on 4th April 2008, 1:15
I think the result will be 1 Raikkonnen 2 Massa 3 Kovalainen
Pink Peril said on 4th April 2008, 1:27
1. Kovalainen
2. Kimi
3. Heidfeld
Pole – Felipe, but spins off on first corner
Brar Soler said on 4th April 2008, 3:39
1)Massa
2)Barrichello
3)Piquet
You need to be impartial to made a racional prediction.
Peter Punk said on 4th April 2008, 3:58
I’m wih Bigotez, Keith:
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Kovalainen
I think Massa will struggle again, and that we will see both BMW’s in 5th and 6th. Alonso will have a hard time again.