What can we expect form HRT Cosworth today?

HRT Cosworth or Hispania Racing have made it to the first GP, they’ve managed to get both cars out on track – just – and have got both drivers into the race. Bruno Senna had much more running that Karun Chandhok who just got two runs in qualifying and so did amazingly well to get as close to Senna as he did.
The team have has a few dramas over the weekend with the hydraulics issues that they’ve had with Chandhok’s car and the issue with the wheel nut on Senna’s car at the end of practice on Friday. These type of issues are to be expected from such a new team really and as Chandhok says is the problem when they are forced to conduct what is essentailly a shakedown in public.
So what can we expect from them in the race? I think that we may have to expect [...]

Bahrain qualifying, Red Bull and Sebastien Vettel storm to Pole ahead of the Ferraris

Sebastien Vettel took pole position with an outstanding lap to ensure that the Red Bull has a chance in the race tomorrow. It seems that the team that finished last year strongest continues that form. The Ferrari looks quick though so watch out tomorrow Sebastien.
Q1
The first session saw the elimination of all the new teams cars along with Jaime Alguersuari in the Toro Rosso. Senna beat Chandhok, Timo Glock beat both the Lotus‘ along with his Virgin team mate and Trulli outqualified Kovalainen.
Q2
Q3 saw all the teams go for the soft tyres as they are all unsure of everybody elses pace, this is the key session for the midfield teams and it was the Renault of Kubica and the Force India of Sutil that managed to get through. Jenson Button only just squeezed through in the last few seconds as the McLarens still seem berift of pace today.
Q3
In the final [...]

Free Practice 3, Alonso and Ferrari take the honours

The last free practice session has finished and Fernando Alonso underlined the pace of the Ferrari by topping the times in the last free practice session for the Bahrain GP, he beat Nico Rosberg into second place in the Mercedes.
Red Bull finally move to the sharp end of the times taking 3rd and 5th places and pushing the McLarens down to 7th and 12th. The Mercedes still look strong with Rosberg their fastest driver. The Sauber still seems to be disappointing with only managing 13th and 17th after the pace that they showed in pre-season testing.
Karun Chandhok still didn’t get the HRT car out of the garage, hopefully he’ll be able to complete a lap in qualifying so that he can compete in the race otherwise it makes a bit of a mockery of the team getting to the race.
Times in full:
1. Alonso Ferrari 1:54.099
2. Rosberg Mercedes 1:54.368
3. Webber Red [...]

Practice 2 in Bahrain and Nico Rosberg takes the top spot for Mercedes

With the second practice session over Nico Rosberg sits at the top of the times for Mercedes beating Michael Schumacher for the second session. McLaren and Mercedes took the top spots for the session to show that they are the teams to beat.

There was also some good times for Nico Hulkenberg who hauled himself up to 6th place in the times. The Ferrari’s seemed to be concentrating on long runs and so don’t really feature in the times but don’t let that fool you – they are faster than that.
It seems that tyre wear is going to play a big part in Sunday’s GP with some teams treating their tyres nicely and some chewing through them extremely fast. The Red Bull seems to be hard on it’s tyres whereas the McLaren is able to look after them better. If this is the case it will play into the hands of [...]