The new era of Formula 1 got off to a tremendous start in Bahrain yesterday.
The latest batch of cars have been designed according to an entirely new set of rules that swap over-body aerodynamics for under-body ones with the intention of minimising ‘dirty air’ and consequently making it much easier for them to follow one another. To our delight, they delivered precisely that.
The bunching-up of the 20-car pack from the start lasted for much longer than previously, and there were some fantastic battles lacking the ‘retreat and try again’ tactic that we had become regrettably accustomed to. At times, the action was reminiscent of Formula 2 or Formula E, just without the amateur dramatics.
Exemplifying this best was Ferrari pole-sitter Charles Leclerc having a scintillating back-and-forth with Red Bull’s reigning champion, Max Verstappen – the two sitting right on each other’s gearboxes, slipstreaming and swapping positions several times over multiple laps.
It was a battle from which the Monégasque emerged victorious, reminding us all of the talent that he had so brilliantly showcased before Ferrari entered a two-year period of anonymity.
Following him home was not Verstappen but the other scarlet car of Carlos Sainz Jr who, despite admitting that he didn’t yet feel entirely comfortable with the new car (whether due to the visibly more nervous feel or the different driving style required), put in a strong performance from third on the grid.
It was a superb result for the Scuderia, which has clearly produced the fastest initial 2022 package. It’s great to see the Italian cars back at the top, not least because a Ferrari in fine form can only be healthy for the sport in a wider context.
Inverse to Ferrari’s jubilation we find misery at Red Bull, after Verstappen and Sergio Pérez retired from third and fourth positions within sight of the chequered flag, both having suffered a power loss that the team suspects might have a common cause. Milton Keynes can take heart from the fact that the RB18 is a close second to the Ferrari F1-75, and indeed that Verstappen has lost none of his savage raw pace; but it was an ignominious debut for Red Bull as an engine supplier – made worse still by the immolation of one of the AlphaTauri sister cars.
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Cars looked awful, they still sound crap....I couldnt be bothered to watch after 10 minutes.
After 60 years of following and watching Grand Prix and then F1 racing, culminating last year in a 'fixed' result to the championship, I am done with it all.
Just like to say, this was a good article, informative,fair and no bias, yes, round two will be the Litmus test, to see if Ferrari are the team to beat this year,and, I feel sorry for Verstappens race engineer, in the last three laps or so over the radio between each other it sounded like Dad trying to calm down a five year old.