2022 for us is different from 2014 for Mercedes

Latifi: tire management as an opportunity?

As already mentioned, Sunday will be about keeping the tires alive for as long as possible. Williams driver Nicholas Latifi sees this as an opportunity. Tire management has been one of his strengths in Formula 1 this year. “It also allowed me to win the main Formula 2 race here last year,” he recalls and adds: “We hope this will play out in our cards.”

But it won’t be easy anyway, he landed in P18 only in the afternoon in FT2.

Rosberg explains the route in Bahrain

The 2016 world champion explains the course in Bahrain in his latest video – and looks back on, among other things, his legendary duel against Lewis Hamilton in 2014 …

Roberts: I’d like to stay in charge of the team!

Officially, Simon Roberts is only Williams’ interim team leader. But when we asked, he said: “I’d like to stay in charge of the team next season.” But there hasn’t been any discussion yet on how Williams will continue in this position in 2021. “Right now we are focusing on finishing the season, getting some points and then we’ll see,” Roberts said.

So it’s not just exciting in the driver market.

Vettel: new tires “much worse”

For a change, a negative rumor about new tires. “They weren’t a step forward. Quite the contrary,” said Sebastian Vettel and added: “I hope we won’t see these tires anymore. They are much worse than what we currently have.” So it would be better to continue driving with the current tires in 2021.

“Until we have a tire that gives us something that current tires can’t – for example less overheating, more chance for duels – we shouldn’t change tires. These tires are definitely worse, that’s for sure. All the problems we already have. they will get worse, ”Vettel said.

Ferrari: 2022 for us different from 2014 for Mercedes

Mercedes used the new Formula 1 regulations in 2014 to build a domain that continues to this day. Could Ferrari achieve something similar from 2022? “I don’t think it’s a similar situation”, dismisses team boss Mattia Binotto and explains: “At the time, Mercedes was smart enough to develop the new engine much earlier than anyone else.”

As a result, Mercedes has had a big advantage since 2014. In 2022, however, it will be different because you can’t start working on your new car again until January 1, 2021. “That’s the biggest difference,” explains Binotto. The only comparability is that it is a major rule change. The timing is completely different from 2014.

Bottas: 2021 tires “no big difference”

The Finn sees him more as Lando Norris and explains: “You have changed the construction. The tires are a bit heavier, which should improve reliability, which is important. But in terms of performance, it’s not a big difference. “. Today the tires were “a little slower”, but remember: “There is still a lot to learn”. Especially since current cars are optimized for current tires and not new ones.

Sainz: It will be an “interesting” race

The Spaniard believes that the tire situation could make Sunday an exciting race. “You have to manage the tires well,” he explains, adding: “You get slower with each lap and it’s a mental battle. You have to control yourself not to push too hard. I think it will be an interesting race.” He believes all three mixes are used and that there could be different strategies.

Either way, it would be a lot more exciting than 20 drivers all trying to get away with just one stop!

The weird dog scene …

… is here again in the video. We hope, in the interest of the animal, that there will be no repetitions over the weekend.

Horner: “positive” Ferrari approval

This is obviously the expected “engine block”, which in the meantime Ferrari would also agree. “This is good news for Formula 1”, Christian Horner told ‘Sky’ satisfied, and explains: “It makes no sense to invest hundreds of millions of dollars more in these engines.” It is therefore logical to stop development. Now only Renault should agree.

Norris: new tires “no big difference”

Incidentally, not all drivers view 2021 tires as negatively as Hamilton and Albon. For example, Lando Norris explains: “For me they are a little more difficult to drive. But there is not much difference, not like day and night. They are not completely different tires. They are similar.” So there is no complete agreement in the field of drivers.

Ten crown cases

Formula 1 released its mandatory crown stats again this week. A total of 4,887 tests have been carried out in the past seven days, ten of them positive, including Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. Apart from that, as always, no details are given on positive cases.

Horner: Albon has to check Crash

How should the Red Bull driver deal with his accident today? “Now he has to suppress it”, Christian Horner explains to ‘Sky’ and reveals: “In reality, things have been getting better and better for him in Istanbul and even up to the accident here in Bahrain, as far as the feeling with the car is concerned. impressions of Max. “

“It’s a real shame that the accident happened. He stayed behind, an accident like that doesn’t help, but tomorrow is a new day,” said Horner, who reveals he hasn’t talked to Albon yet. “I’ll let him down first. He just got back from the medical center, all right. I’ll talk to him in ten minutes or so.”

The riders tear off new Pirelli tires

2021 tires are not well received by drivers. For example, when Lewis Hamilton is contacted about it, he says with a laugh that he would rather not comment on the subject. “Now you had two years to build a better tire,” he finally recalls. Eventually, you got three pounds heavier and one second slower tire.

The new tires were “not good” and he would have preferred to keep the current ones. Alexander Albon sees it the same way. “You’re slow,” he shrugs when asked about 2021 tires. “They don’t really have much grip,” he adds, agreeing with Hamilton’s view that the tires are “more than a second” slower than they are today.

Wolff: “Verstappen the fastest”

The Mercedes team boss confirms Horner’s impression of “Sky”. He explains: “We had a nice test schedule with the new tires, and obviously this brings turmoil to the normal process, so eventually we may have run out of time for the long haul. But hard to assess. I think The car is fast, we are there. in one lap. Now in the long run Verstappen was the fastest followed by Valtteri and Lewis, so everything went well. “

Horner: Long distances look good

The team leader also commented on the balance of power. It won’t be easy for Red Bull this weekend, Mercedes looks pretty strong. But Verstappen’s long runs still make him confident. The Dutchman himself speaks of an overall “positive” Friday. The goal now is to find an even better balance. And in the race it depends on the tires. We have already prophesied this.

Albon makes it all clear: “It’s okay”

The Red Bull driver gave the green light after his crash: “It wasn’t fun, but it’s okay.” He was simply “surprised” by the poor grasp of the situation. He tried to slow down. “But obviously not enough,” he shrugs. Team boss Christian Horner explains on “Sky” that the crash was “frustrating” for the team. Now there is a lot of work waiting for the team overnight.