F1 2023 - Round 1: Bahrain

Jordan 199

Open race of the season coming up on Sunday. Hopefully it will be a cracking one.

Friday: First Practice - 11.30. Second Practice - 15.00.

Saturday: Third Practice - 11.30. Qualifying - 15.00.

Sunday: Race - 15.00.

All sessions will be live on Sky Sports.

For those who will watch it on C4: Qualifying will be on at 19.30 on Saturday and Race will be on at 21.00 on Sunday. All highlights.

Gremlinertia

Cannot wait, Curious to see how Alfa will do since most talk seems to be about Mclaren v Alpine for outside of the usual Red bull, Ferrari and Mercedes chatter, bring it on!!

MadYaker

The main thing I want to see is if Aston Martin have really made a step forward or is it just testing throwing us off.

AMKC

I am looking forward to see how Alpine, Alfa and Aston Martin all do.

Jordan 199

I wish it was Sunday now. The waiting is the hardest part....

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120297888#Comment_120297888

Look on the bright side, one less day to quali which will answer a lot of questions!

Gremlinertia

I don't know why I'm so excited this year in particular but I am.. I'll be trying to find free practice Friday hopefully

Vicxas

Im so happy this is back, felt like ages

Jordan 199

I'm going to make a daring prediction. Alonso will start the race from the front row of the grid.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298144#Comment_120298144

Ah sure he did that last year in Canada... 😋

Not exactly a daring prediction but it would not surprise me if a McLaren fails to get out of Q1.

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298361#Comment_120298361

I forgot about Canada 😃

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Nice infographic from Pirelli.

jv2000

Enjoy the anticipation. We could all feel very different on Sunday evening of Red Bulls lap the field and finish 1-2. Unfortunately it could well happen..... even if Alonso comes third it will be tough to take another season of Verstappen domination.

Gremlinertia

The coverage in recent years has looked to where the racing is as opposed to following whoever is out front.

Haven't seen a race straight covering the leader of any given race in years. Hopefully that remains the same..

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298644#Comment_120298644

You can never get tyre-d of that stuff 😉

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120299061#Comment_120299061

.. even if Alonso comes third it will be tough to take another season of Verstappen domination.

No problem with that at all. Much better than Mercedes and Hamilton constantly dominating. You must be a Lewis and Hamilton fan.

Now give be 5 more seasons of Max and Red Bull winning and I will be bored of it alright.

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120300602#Comment_120300602

F1 fandon isn't as binary as Hamilton or Verstappen, I couldn't care less which of them comes out on top if the battle is as epic as the 2021 season. Though without the politics would be better.

McFly85

Domination by any driver is unbearably boring. Would love to see a strong showing from the Ferraris this weekend, they have a strong car but you’d imagine they can’t allow any mistakes to even be in with a chance.

AM may well have a good weekend but I can’t imagine them troubling the top 3 over the course of the season.

greenspurs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120299333#Comment_120299333

Wheeley ?

greenspurs

Anyone here just not like this track?

I dunno if its cos its night time, or just all the long straights .... or because its relatively new to the calendar , but i cant really like it , like i do other tracks .....

Ghost Train

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120300722#Comment_120300722

I like the track enough but would prefer the Australian race to be the season opener, with the early morning start. I also would have preferred Barcelona preseason testing.

Hopefully it will be a good race

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120301372#Comment_120301372

They're 2 of the most boring tracks. Why would you prefer them?

greenspurs

Id like Portugal in there instead of any of the Emirati tracks ... Altho Qatar isnt as 'bad' as the other 2 imo...

Imola could be interesting , i love the Azerbaijan circuit.

The Miami (sector 2 especially) and Vegas circuits could be very fast .....

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120300711#Comment_120300711

Now that's wheely bad 😃

jv2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120300602#Comment_120300602

Haha first time I have ever been accused of being a Hamilton fan. Actually I don't have a lot against Max but I see the danger of him dominating for a loooong time. Would love to see one of the Ferrari drivers win this year.... or Alonso of course.

Ghost Train

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120301385#Comment_120301385

Being able to watch free practice early on a Friday morning 2 or 3am after a long winter. Challenging for the teams too

Having the testing on a track that they will then have the first race at, might mean there are less surprises about how the cars will perform

Here some stats on opening races

SEASON-OPENING COUNTRIES

22 Australia

15 Argentina

10 Brazil

9 South Africa

5 Monaco

5 Bahrain*

3 USA

2 Switzerland

1 Britain

1 Netherlands

1 Austria

Andrew76

Stroll will be racing this weekend according to racingnews365.

rameire

Lance is to Race this weekend.

eviltimeban

I'd take another year of Max domination. And then LeClerc winning next year. And Alonso the next, then he retires for good. 😀

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120302935#Comment_120302935

Sorry about that lol.

Yes that would be good too.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304134#Comment_120304134

Isn't Australia both an inconvenient time for everyone this side of the world, and a terrible race? It had 3 or 4 DRS zones last year and still poor racing.