The talking, testing and predictions are over and the season has begun, and any fears that fans may have had that Mercedes would run away from the field again this year have been allayed as we saw a great race in Bahrain.
Right from the start of free practice it was obvious that Merc’s usual form and advantage over their rivals was not there. RedBull’s pace from testing was not a flash in the pan and while the Mercedes machine looked a lot more stable in the corners than it did two weeks earlier it was clear that the team was not completely happy. The big news is that Mercedes does not have the fastest car this year and RedBull are right in the hunt for the championship.
Even more exciting for us fans is the expectation that the fight is showing signs of being epic as Hamilton and Verstappen are both at the peak of their powers and prepared to give everything to take victory. We saw a race long battle in race one that was not resolves until the closing laps and what’s more the race was nor decided in the pits but on the track with some wheel to wheel action.
Verstappen came out of the pits after his final pitstop with 16 laps to go and quickly closed the gap to leader Hamilton, he used his fresher tyres to good effect and when he came up behind Lewis we saw some great action as both men raced hard. The pressure from Max was intense and Lewis even went off track as a result out of turn ten, thus giving the RedBull the edge. It was turn four that ultimately proved decisive (track limits will be discussed later) when Verstappen made a move around the outides and came out ahead. Initially it looked like a brilliant move but replays showed that the RedBull had gone off track to make the move. He gave the place back after an instruction from race control and after that he didn’t appear to have the chance to pass again.
I have no issue with the stewards decision to ask Max to give the place back, as mentioned it was clear that the pass had happened off of the track. If it been grass or gravel on the outside of the corner he would have been massively slowed anyway. The real issue with track limits is the nonsensical decision of the officials to change the ruling of track limits for corners throughout the weekend. Why is it illegal for part of the weekend and then allowed for the race, and then not consistent throughout the race. Lewis was regularly using the outside of turn four for the first part and then asked later to stop using it.
There is no need to make things so complicated with the issue. In every other sport the field of play is set and does not move at all. The line is the line. Motor sport should be same, the while line is the edge of the track being over it should mean you are off track. It doesn’t need to change from circuit to circuit, corner to corner or session to session. This needs to be cleared up to avoid more problems and complications in future races.
That aside we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year,, if it continues like this we are in for a thrilling season and that tense title battle we have been hoping for is looking very likely.
While Valterri Bottas will be disappointed with his start to an important season for him his opposite number at RedBull can be very pleased with his start. Sergio Perez is probably my man if the race after he came back from a pit lane start after his car cut out on the parade lap. That is why the team hired him, to get big points even when the race does not go got plan. Fifth place was good reward for his efforts and I wonder if he may have beaten Bottas to the final podium spot if he had started from his grid spot.
Another stand out performer was McLaren’s Lando Norris who starred as he made his from seventh to fourth and it must be said outshone his more experienced new team mate. Ricciardo put in a good lap in quali to outqualify Norris but in the race he was solid and not spectacular. Seventh place was a good haul of points for the team but being beaten by Norris would not have been on Ricciardo’s mind for his first race for his new team. There was talk from the paddock that he was still adjusting to the McLaren’s brakes, and he certainly didn’t look as sharp on the brakes as he normally is. Therfore there is plenty more to come from the Australian, overall though the team will be happy with its performance from the first race.
Ferrari will be another team that will be happy and pleasantly surprised by their form. A sixth for LeClerc and eighth for Sainz was much more encouraging than testing suggested and the fact that Leclerc started fourth and fought Bottas early on was also give the team hope.
Elsewhere Gasly was unlucky to tag Ricciardo early on and not finish after he also qualified well. The pace of the Alpha Tauri is good and they will be a strong team in future races. Team mate and rookie Yuki Tsunoda took a strong ninth on debut and showed the hard charging nature that we have seen from other Japanese drivers in the past. I have a feeling that he will provide a lot of entertainment for us this year.
Aston Martin had a very tough start and a solitary point for Stroll was a step down from last years strong showing. It seems that they have been hit hard by the new floor regs just as Mercedes have and have some work to do.
Sebastian Vettel’s start to the season did not look like being a return to the glory days for him. Not getting past Q1 was a disappointment and a very silly clash with Ocon in the race and five penalty points was an embracement. I really hope that the following races prove to be better for Sebastian.
The other two rookies had a difficult weekend in the Haas which is firmly the slowest car. Nikia Mazapin had a spin on lap one which put him out and while Mick Schumacher got a race distance under his belt he also suffererd a spin. Both drivers will have a character building season and settling in to F1 is all they can really hope for.
That about covers the first race. I cannot wait for the rest of the season. Lets not speak to early but it could very well be a classic. Bring it on!!!!!!!!! It is Imola next up and battle will resume with the top two.
My F1 talk 