2008 Bahrain GP preview: predictions
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?
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.
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
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.
1. kovalainen
2. hamilton
3. heidfeld
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
1. Massa
2. Kimi
3. Kubica
Risky prediction (i know)
Kimi
Hamilton
Rosberg
Trulli in the points.
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…
1 - Raikonen
2 - kovalainen
3 - hamilton
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.
Kimi
Massa
Hamilton
I think the result will be 1 Raikkonnen 2 Massa 3 Kovalainen
1. Kovalainen
2. Kimi
3. Heidfeld
Pole - Felipe, but spins off on first corner
1)Massa
2)Barrichello
3)Piquet
You need to be impartial to made a racional prediction.
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.
I want Kimi to win, but I get the feeling that Massa is going to win like last year. So if none of that unpredictable stuff happens…
1. Massa
2. Raikkonen
3. Kovalainen
1. Kimi
2. Kovalainen
3. Heidfeld/Trulli
ie if sand does not play a huge role and we have a decent no. of race finishes
1. Kimi
2. Kovalainen
3. Alonso
if we have a case of Aus all over again (<10 finishers)
Raikkonen
Kovalainen
Massa
… he has to finish the race one day
1. Massa.
2. Kimi.
3. Hamilton.
I think Massa may genuinely have a problem with no TC, but I also think he may be capable of bouncing back under pressure. Ferrari all the way for me, so 1. Massa, 2. Hamilton, 3. Kubica. Raikkonen with some (mechanical) problems in 4th and both Williams’ in the points. Pole to Massa by .003.
Williams are looking good… I think Rosberg might get onto the podium, but only if a Ferrari or Mclaren has problems.
1. kimi
2. lewis
3. heikki
4. nick
5. robert
6. massa after a spin
Votes for the winners so far:
Kimi Raikkonen 12
Felipe Massa 5
Heikki Kovalainen 2
Lewis Hamilton 1
Any more?
Massa
Kimi
kovalainen
Assuming Massa keeps it all pointing in the right direction he will do well, but not enough to beat Kimi - and McLaren don’t seem to have enough pace to trouble either of them at the moment.
1. Kimi
2. Massa
3. Heikki
1 Kimi
2 Massa
3 Hamilton
I think Massa will play it safe, but the Mac’s just don’t seem to have the pace to challenge the Ferrari’s
Hamilton
Massa
Kimi
Heikki
Hamilstud…makes rare unforced error.
Kimiking…has luck "desert" him.
Massaster…gets sand in his eyes.
So, we end up with: Heikki hikes unto top step
The Fortunate One, RK, is a Place
….and………..Trulli finally, and truly, rewards Mr. T
All for the good of the Realm.
My prediction:
1.Kimi
2.Kovaleinen
3.Hamilton
DNF(Spin):Massa
And the daft crazy not thinking straight prediction goes as:
1.Kubica
2.Trulli
3.Alonso
DNF(Spin):Massa
I think its time for Massa
1-Massa
2-Raikonen
3-Kovalainen
1. Kubica
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
1. Massa
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
I think !
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Kovaleinen
1. Raikkonen 2. Massa 3. Kubica 4. Kovalainen 5. Heidfeld 6. DNF - Hamilton
Massa on pole;
1. Kimi
2. Massa
3. Hamilton
Raikkonen will always be faster than Massa in a race, and Kovaleinen will start to regularly beat Lewis, so 1. Kimi, 2. Massa, 3. Heikki.
Kimi
Massa
Heikki
Well Massa has to finish a race soon…. doesn’t he?….
1. Hamilton
2.Massa
3. Rosberg
kimi
Hamilton
Robert
hamilton - kimi - heidfeld
Kimi
Heikki
Robert
Hamilton is going to get punished for changing his engine and gearbox from his crash. Massa will crash. Nick or Nico will come in third, Jenson will score points both Torro Rossos will finish in the points or not finish at all.
hummm… I think Lewis can´t be punished…
nice to see someone else trusting BMW and picking Robert to make the podium
1. Raikonnen2. Rosberg3. Massa
1)Raikonnen
2)Heidfeld
3)Hamilton/Kovalainen
1. Kimi
2. Massa
3. Lewis.
Massa will take pole, but Kimi will leapfrog him in the pits. The Mclaren’s will have a relatively lonely race - too far behind the Ferraris to challenge, but faster than the Beemers.