Bahrain Grand Prix

tough to expect anything different than what we saw in Shanghai last weekend, with just 120 hours between cars on the track, there is not a lot of time for changes or upgrades.

here's what Alonso had to say this week. . .
"Both the Scuderia and I have a good record in Bahrain: the team has four victories here and I've got three, the last of which was also my debut race for the Prancing Horse. But the past counts for nothing in this sport and this weekend will be all about damage limitation for us."

meanwhile Raikkonen said . . .
"A podium should be possible and I think it has been at all the races we've been at so far," he said. "We won't know exactly how good the car is until we get there, but we don't expect any problems."

Lotus has been good when the driver keeps the car on the track and when tyre strategy is good.  The silver arrows appear to be dangerous now that they've solved their race pace tyre wear issue.  McLaren is the early favorite in Bahrain.  I know I've been quick to back Red Bull at the prices we've seen, but maybe it's their week.  If the Scuderia can win, then it stands to reason Red Bull can do it too.

McLaren or nothing for me. No reason to not trust what we've seen so far. Let's hope this GP goes off without any political problems or violence in Bahrain. It was cancelled last year.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/bahrain-rulers-hoping-f1-race-will-help-rebuild-image-despite-political-unrest-persisting/2012/04/19/gIQAHy02ST_story.html

found this interesting...good luck on your plays  

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/330509/20120419/force-india-mechanics-flee-bahrain-molotov-cocktail.htm

Not liking much on the early prices for podium finishes . . . tough to take just +170 for vettel or nico, +250 for michael or webber, +300 for the ice man and +450 for alonso.

but i might like some of the "top 10 finish" props
either force india at +275
either toro rosso at +350
if the williams guys keep looking good, maybe a stab there at -110

i only get one for a top ten from that group, but all those teams have scored points this season, and maldonado was well inside the top 10 before his stupid crash in melbourne.

prices to win the pole
+205   hamilton
+870   button
+1160 vettel
+185  rosberg
+260  schumacher

one would think that Mercedes still has a great chance at posting the best time in a one lap race.  but with tyre wear being what it is, how many will opt to start on the harder compound?

one would think mercedes would rather race in clean air, but brawn is a sly one,  Nico's comments make it sound like the silver arrows are having more trouble with the tyres in race pace, so maybe they will try to land the pole and let the chips fall where they may in the race.

i went with hamilton in my F1 pool, but i think there are two many question marks to be backing nico or lewis at these prices.

I put $40 on Lewis to win pole +205. What a mess this GP is with violence surrounding the venue.