Bahrain Gp

[Bazile]

Ferrari has a real dilemma now , haven't they ?

After two races , that Boy Leclerc is clearly faster than Vettel

Given that Vettel has number one driver status in the team , what they going to do in subsequent races - force Leclerc to stay behind Vettel ?

Nice to see Hamilton's actions towards Leclerc , after the race

[Zacs-Master]

Ferrari didn't do that in Qual. Why should they do it in a race?
Great GP tho wasn't it!
Been watching Lando's rise for the past couple of years.'One to watch' as they say in horse racing circles.

[ChillDoubt]

Vettel as ever showed his true mettle.
Whenever LH is behind him and gets close enough to say ‘Boo’, Vettel jumps.
Leclerc looks destined for a successful future. A few more weekends like that and Ferrari may have to re-think who their Number 1 is for the season.

[douglas9401]

Mr Vettel and myself have something in common.

We both regularly go for a spin on a Sunday afternoon.

It was a damned shame what happened to young Charles after all that hard work but if the entitled Italians can get their act together he'll go far.

[vetuste_ennemi]

First one this year I really enjoyed.

And, yes, shame about the boy.

[Bazile]

//Ferrari didn't do that in Qual. Why should they do it in a race? //

I don't follow you

[Chloe55]

Did Charles get driver of the day? If not, he should have. Brilliant driver!!

[Zacs-Master]

Ferrari didn't instruct Le Clerc not to put in the fastest lap.

[Bazile]

But they instructed him to stay behind Vettel in Australia

[ToraToraTora]

no they'll let them race, up to a point. Leclerc demonstrated vast maturity yesterday as did Vettel. I think they'll let one or the other emerge naturally before any sort of team orders are used. Maybe later in the season they'll have to favour one or the other but for now I'd say they'll let them race. Brilliant drive by LeClerc and only reliability prevented him from winning. Merc benefited this time but they can't rely on fortune for the whole season.

[douglas9401]

He did, Chloe, with 50% of all votes.

[Zacs-Master]

His car has obviously improved since Aus. Ferrari are desperate to get back to wining ways. I think team orders won't apply as long as they have a hope of two drivers on the podium.

[New Judge]

One of the most satisfying races I've seen for a long time.

I'm very unfond of just about everything Italian - their food their wine and in particular their racing cars. With all three they seem to suffer particularly from delusions of grandeur.

So yesterday was particularly satisfying. When it was looking like a Ferrari One-Two (with a probable switch over of Leclerc and Vettel engineered at some point) I was particularly despondent and an additional bottle of Palmer's "Tally Ho" was opened. Then Lewis not only overtook Sebastian but we also saw the German spin off and then his front wing disintegrate. What could be better!? However, even I was resigned to a Ferrari victory as Leclerc had had a stunning weekend. Just when I was deciding on either a third bottle or a trip to the pub his troubles began. I was over the moon and Lewis creeps one more (very unexpected) victory towards Schumacher's tally of 91.

If Leclerc had been in any other car I would have felt for him. He'd done everything right. But I cannot shed tears over a Ferrari failure, whoever is driving. Charles will have plenty of victories to come, that's for sure. I just hope that not too many of them come in a red car.

[ToraToraTora]

Baz: "But they instructed him to stay behind Vettel in Australia" - first race no difference in pace, they didn't want risk LeClerc taking Vettel out and ending up with nothing. Now LeClerc and Vettel have demonstrated they are not going to do any silly moves the team will be more confident. Also Yesterday Vettel was clearly slower and also span it tussling with Hamilton and ran over his own wing. Clearly behind, there is no way they'd have interfered. F1 is all about what is happening in the here and now, not pre defined decisions to apply come what may.

[Bazile]

Tora - That's not how i recall the Australian race - Leclerc had more pace than Vettel and they could have easily let him pass without any drama


//F1 is all about what is happening in the here and now, not pre defined decisions to apply come what may.//

There are plenty of instances over the past years where Ferrari team orders ( we are talking specifically about Ferrari , here ) have dictated that the number two driver wasn't allowed to win .

[Zacs-Master]

That's when they were constantly winning GPs tho.

[Zacs-Master]

Plus, in Aus they had nothing to gain points-wise so late in the race as they were 20 seconds behind the next car in front.

[Bazile]

nj

//..With all three they seem to suffer particularly from delusions of grandeur. //

I kinda see where your'e coming from as regards to the racing team

Afterall , they get a large amount of folding just for being Ferrari and turning up ; which is totally inequitable

[vetuste_ennemi]

//I just hope that not too many [victories] come in a red car//

Did you feel that way when our Nige was driving for them, NJ?

[Bazile]

// Plus, in Aus they had nothing to gain points-wise so late in the race as they were 20 seconds behind the next car in front.//

Come the end of the season the Championship ( as in the past ) could be determined by a few points .
Vettel i'm sure has number one driver status in the team - therefore the Ferrari thinking in Australia was to allow Vettel to score as many points in the race as possible

[ToraToraTora]

"There are plenty of instances over the past years where Ferrari team orders ( we are talking specifically about Ferrari , here ) have dictated that the number two driver wasn't allowed to win . " - I doubt it was as black and white as that and certainly none of us would be party to the team orders. Sure there have been times they have swapped cars when the situation allows for it but to say the no2 driver cannot win is ridiculous, what if the no1 driver is 3 cars back? or out altogether? I assume you mean that if the no2 car is in front of the no1 driver they must always swap?? Even that is silly if that would slow the pace and leave them vulnerable to other teams. As I said they react to circumstances as they occur not a predefined set of "rules".