1.Qualifying and Podium?
Well, it wouldn't be fair for me to comment on qualifying post-event, so...
Even with the added advantage, I'm sure my podium predictions will be rubbish, but I'll give it a go anyways:
1) Raikonnen 2) Schumi 3) Button (coming up from the back!)
2.Will Ferrari show any improvement in raw pace?
Again, I've seen qualifying, and call me a Ferrari-hater all you want (I'm not, I don't care), but that car stinks. The only way Alonso gets on the podium is if the same sort of circumstances occur in this race as in Malaysia (i.e., biblical rain, him driving out of his eyebrow-laden skull, and good fortune on the part of bad fortune of other drivers).
3.How will the Merc's fair in the race, is the Qualy pace a sign of potential race pace or is the W03 a one trick pony?
I hope to see the Mercs in-race performance finally match up to the promises they show in qualifying, but I'm not sure. Stiill... I gave a podium to Schumi, but it could just as easily be Rosberg (I just think Schumi's bucketful-of-experience caginess will give him an edge over his teammate)
4.Judging by the last two races how tight is the field, have the midfield teams closed the gap to the front runners slightly this year?
Too soon for me to tell, but it certainly appears that way, and I certainly hope it continues.
5.Will we see a more aggressive Hamilton in the race? (note he has a grid penalty.)
I don't see why not, but I have more faith in Button coming from behind (!) than I do Hamilton, just based on the Malaysian race alone.
6.To Bahrain or not to Bahrain?
I hope not. But then again, I don't like seeing any sort of global sporting event in any country as rife with human rights violations as China, either.