Formula 1 GP Bahrain: Ferrari is back at the top

Ferrari supporters have had a hard time biting the bullet in recent years. Despite massive efforts and investments, the Italian racing team has never been able to match the performance of the German Mercedes team. Even the purchase of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel did nothing to change that. With two runner-up world titles, he almost had his hand on the trophy in 2017 and 2018, but only almost. After five frustrating years (2015-2020), they parted unnerved. The German racing driver had not been able to make the Ferrari dream come true. And you have to look back quite a while to the years 2000 to 2004, when Ferrari clinched the world title five times under Michael Schumacher, or to 2007, when this coup was achieved by Kimi Raikkonen of Finland.

Will 2022 be the year of long-awaited success?
Yesterday's qualifying session already made it clear that Ferrari could once again be among the front runners, but finishing a long race successfully is something quite different from winning a qualifying session, and yet the clear gaps were impressive. And, above all, Mercedes, which had been the clear favorite up to that point, had a pretty bad run. A fifth and sixth place on the grid was all that the two Silver Arrows managed. And in the race, too, the former favorites were left trailing behind. Victory was decided between the duelists Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull). In the first few laps in particular, the two drivers engaged in a duel that had not been seen in Formula 1 for a long time. Verstappen chased Leclerc like a dogged man, grabbing him before the turn until the Monegasque fought back and overtook him again back in the next turn. These various duels at the front led to rapturous applause from the grandstand. This was gripping pure Formula 1 racing, as spectators love it, but always fair! The fact that both Red Bull cars retired shortly before the end of the race due to technical problems ensured that Carlos Sainz was able to inherit second place from Verstappen and that even Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes made it onto the podium, which would not have been possible without the Red Bull retirement. The superiority of the Ferrari cars, but also smart tire management and really fast pit stops were the recipe for the clear victory of the Ferrari drivers in today's race. The season is still long and the competition will do everything to close the gap to Ferrari, but at the moment the Reds are on course for the world championship and can make the Ferraristi's dream come true if things stay that way.

Formula 1 field reshuffled
But it's not just the Ferraris that are upside down, no, the new season has reshuffled the entire driver and team field. McLaren was unable to keep up today, having been in the front midfield in previous years. The Haas team, on the other hand, has taken a giant leap. Whereas in the last few years they were happy to occupy the rear places, today Kevin Magnussen, who replaced the deposed Russian Mazepin, took 5th place and lined up in the top 10. Almost the same happened to new Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri-Bottas, who had to leave the Mercedes team, with an amazing 6th place! Rookie George Russell, who was allowed to chase the field for the last two years under Williams, thanked his new position with an amazing 4th place, only 1.5 seconds behind his compatriot Lewis Hamilton. And Williams also surprised with Albon in 14th place. In contrast, Aston Martin also went down a bit, especially substitute driver Nico Hülkenberg, who was standing in for Sebastian Vettel, who had fallen ill with Corona, had to make do with last place. All in all, a turbulent start to the new season with loud changes in the rules, the results and the rankings of the teams and drivers. Formula 1 promises much more excitement and better entertainment this season.