BAHRAIN REVIEW BY BEN STEVENS
Whatever the aero changes to their wing
and floor have been, the fact remains they’re
further adrift than at either of the previous two
races. Maybe their excellent long-run pace will
make the difference in the race, but Saturday
remains the domain of the Silver Arrows for
the time being.
After making massive gains on the 2016
pole time in China, Bahrain’s was only seven-
tenths off its predecessor, which can’t be ideal.
It seems that with the added width 2017’s cars
have struggled to “punch through” the air-
resistance Bahrain offers.
Renault deserve plenty of plaudits for
getting two cars through to Q3 for the first
time this season. At some point, they’re going
to be expected to start performing like the
high-budgeted factory team they are, and
to that end this was a good step in the right
direction.
Team radio is used for a lot of things,
namely instructions, complaints and
questions – but now we can add off-key
renditions of “Happy Birthday” to that list
thanks to Romain Grosjean.
I wonder what McLaren has used more of:
power unit components, or Fernando Alonso’s
patience?
Apparently those few extra weeks in the
gym doing kegels (at least, that’s what I’m
assuming he was doing) have paid off for
Pascal Wehrlein, getting P13 in the Sauber.
With an engine that will only get more dated,
they need to seize every small opening they
get.