20/03/2022
NEWS STORY
Spare a thought for Charles, Max, Carlos, Sergio, Lewis and the boys today, for there is one hell of a lot riding on their shoulders.
Not the top step on the podium or even their title prospects, but rather the need to give Formula One back some self-respect.
While some appear to be glossing over what happened almost 100 days ago in nearby Abu Dhabi, many of us still cannot forget.
One of the first pieces our editor, Chris Balfe ever wrote for the old Atlas F1 site, was about the infamous 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez. It was entitled 'The Day the Music Died'.
Skip forward almost a quarter of a decade and that term seems wholly appropriate for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
We know from personal experience that some fans have left the sport following the events of that night, and yesterday's ludicrous report will have done little to bring them back.
However, if Charles, Max and the boys can continue as they've begun this season, if we can stop the lobbying, the back-biting and the desire to turn our sport into a high octane version of WWF, there's a chance that they may one day return.
The ingredients are definitely there, for other than Mercedes finally looking a little shaky, we have a resurgent Ferrari and the likes of Haas and Alfa Romeo looking a genuine threat for points having spent the last couple of seasons almost embarrassing themselves.
Over the next 90-odd minutes we should begin to learn the impact of the rules overhaul, not to mention where the teams stands in terms of reliability and race pace.
We're not going to analyse what we think the result might be, rather we're going to sit back and hope that Charles, Max and the boys - not forgetting Toto and Christian - can give the sport back some of its credibility, and remind us why we fell in love with it in the first place.
Let's begin the new season, with its new rules, a new face - representing a new nation in terms of F1 - the return of some old names and a much hoped for shake up and start with a new slate.
With its abrasive asphalt and demanding layout, the race looks likely to be a two-stopper, as has been the case in previous years. A one-stopper isn't completely out of the question, but it will be slower. All three compounds can be used for a two-stopper or alternatively two set of softs and one of medium, which is reckoned to be the fastest option.
The big decision for the teams will be which tyre compound to start on, with the whole field now given a free choice of starting tyres, making the strategy even more open than before.
As there is a quite a big performance gap in terms of lap time between the compounds, those starting on the soft tyre will have quite a big pace advantage initially compared to those on mediums, while anyone wanting to start on the hard will face a considerable speed deficit.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
With just over thirty minutes before the start, all 20 cars are on the grid.
Air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 31 degrees, but that will drop as the sun begins to set... which it is doing right now. Risk of rain is 0%.
As they set off on the formation lap the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees.
All start on softs bar Norris and Ricciardo who are on mediums. Of the leading ten, only Leclerc and Magnussen are on fresh softs.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly.
The grid forms - Sainz doing a number of late burn outs in order to generate more heat into his tyres.
They're away!
Leclerc leads Verstappen off the line, as Sainz holds off Perez and Hamilton who enter Turn 1 side-by-side. Hamilton gets ahead of Perez in Turn 3, the Mexican running wide and thereby allowing Magnussen alongside.
In Turn 4, Magnussen is alongside Hamilton as Russell is all over Perez, with Gasly and Alonso keeping a watching eye.
After just a handful of corners, as the leaders pull away there is a group of 10 cars further back battling for position - among them is Bottas who had a dreadful start.
Indeed, replay shows the Finn failing to get off the line and losing position to a couple of cars, whilst almost collecting a charging Alonso.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Hamilton, Magnussen, Perez, Russell, Gasly, Alonso and Ocon.
The stewards have noted an incident involving Ocon and Schumacher.
Perez is all over the back of Magnussen, despite the Dane's best efforts he is unable to hold off the Red Bull, his plight not helped by a lock-up in Turn 1.
After 3 laps Leclerc leads by 0.945s.
"Engine braking is doing funny things in the corners," reports Verstappen who is 1.7s ahead of Sainz.
Russell has a look at Magnussen and again the Dane gets it wrong at Turn 1, "thank you very much", Russell might say as he passes the Haas for sixth.
The gaggle of ten cars is led by Tsunoda who is 3.5s down on tenth-placed Ocon.
Bottas and Schumacher are battling for 13th as Ocon is given a 5s time penatly for causing a collision.
Just noticed that Norris has slipped to 18th, just ahead of his McLaren teammate.
Norris is advised that some of the soft runners ahead are already struggling.
Bottas, followed by his Alfa teammate, is all over Albon as they battle for 12th. The Finn nails the Thai driver in Turn 4, but the Williams driver subsequently retakes the position. However, with superior grunt, Bottas won't take no for an answer.
Out front, after 8 laps, Leclerc leads by 2.8s.
Running wide in Turn 1, Hulkenberg loses 16th place to his Aston Martin teammate.
Courtesy of DRS, Perez is able to pass Hamilton, the Briton tries to retake the place but the Mexican is able to hold him off.
"I have zero traction," complains Verstappen.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 11, the Briton switching to hards. He rejoins in 10th as Alonso also pits.
His tyres not up to temperature, Hamilton has no grip and a mistake in Turn 1 allows Zhou through. The Mercedes driver did well not to lose the rear end.
"No grip on this tyre," reports the seven-time world champion.
Alonso switched to mediums during his stop.
"I don't have much life left on the tyres," warns Sainz.
Hamilton nails Zhou going into Turn 1 at the start of lap 14.
"We're too hot to pit so we need to do more cooling even if it costs a position," Hulkenberg is told.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 14. As does Sainz.
They rejoin in 4th and 5th respectively as Magnussen, Gasly, Ocon and Bottas also stop.
Leclerc now leads Perez by 13.2s.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Bahrain, here.
Alonso and Gasly battling hard for 10th
Leclerc and Perez both pit at the end of lap 15, the Ferrari rejoining just ahead of Verstappen, the undercut so nearly paying off.
Russell, Tsunoda and Zhou also pit.
A brave, bold move sees Verstappen nail Leclerc as they go into Turn 1 at the start of lap 16. However, as head onto the straight leading to Turn 4, the Ferrari driver retakes the lead.
Next time around Verstappen does it again, but again Leclerc comes back at him heading into Turn 4. The crowd roars.
This is great stuff, Verstappen comes from way, way back into Turn 1, but the Ferrari is able to fight back.
At the start of lap 19, he does it again, but locks-up thereby allowing Leclerc through almost immediately. All of which will not be doing the world champion's tyres much good.
Further back, Zhou makes quick work of a struggling Norris to claim 13th. Moments later Schumacher also picks off the McLaren, Norris being the only driver yet to stop.
After 20 laps, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Hamilton, Russell, Magnussen, Gasly, Alonso and Ocon.
Bottas is all over Tsunoda as they battle for 11th.
"Just try and bring the brakes down at this stage of the race Max, just focus on that."
Albon is the latest to pass the hapless Norris.
"Think about three stops," advises Sainz.
Bottas makes a move on Tsunoda but cannot make it stick. The AlphaTauri driver subsequently has a wobble which allows the Alfa to close in, but somehow he holds him off. Up ahead, the Alpine pair continue their fight for 9th.
At which point, on lap 25, Alonso stops for the second time this afternoon. He switches to hards with 30 laps remaining.
Back on track, the two-time world champion quickly picks off Albon for 14th.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 27, switching to mediums. Those will never last the race so surely he's on a three-stopper. He rejoins in 8th, having been told to look after his tyres.
Ricciardo is all over Latifi as they scrap for 17th, the Australian eventually gets through.
Stroll and Albon touch as they fight for 15th.
"Medium compound is stronger than expected," Leclerc is advised.
Tsunoda pits at the end of lap 29, rejoining in 15th.
Verstappen pits, sticking to mediums he rejoins in 4th. Ocon also stops.
Next time around, at the end of lap 31, Leclerc follows suit. He too fits mediums, rejoining in third, just ahead of Verstappen.
Sainz therefore leads Perez by 2.7s with Leclerc a further 8s down the road.
Verstappen is frustrated. "That's two times, I'm told to take it easy on the out lap when I could have easily been in front, I'm never, ever doing that again."
At which point the world champion posts a new fastest lap (36.527).
Sainz pits at the end of lap 33, as do Perez and Latifi. The Spaniard rejoins in third, just ahead of the Mexican, as Russell also pits. Sainz is on mediums, Perez on softs and Russell on mediums.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 34, the Dane dropping to 9th in the process.
Hamilton is warned of track limits at Turn 4.
As Schumacher and Albon pit, Magnussen passes Gasly for 9th.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 37, rejoining in 13th, as Sainz has a close encounter with Albon. "Oh my God," cries the Spaniard, "he nearly crashed into me."
Ocon and Alonso still running almost as one in ninth and tenth.
Zhou and Hulkenberg pit at the end of lap 38.
Courtesy of DRS, Tsunoda makes short work of Alonso heading into Turn 1 at the start of lap 41, thereby demoting the Spaniard out of the points.
Despite the fears over reliability, we still have all 20 runners.
Norris pits from 16th at the end of lap 42, rejoining in 20th. Teammate Ricciardo is currently 17th. Reply shows it wasn't the easiest of stops for Norris.
"We have less deg than Verstappen," Leclerc is advised.
At the end of lap 43, both Bulls pit as does Alonso. The Bulls - now third (Verstappen) and fifth (Perez) - are on softs.
Ferrari reacts, bringing Sainz in, as Verstappen is clearly unhappy with his car.
Hamilton also pits.
Despite his concerns, Verstappen goes quickest in S1.
More drama as Gasly pulls to the side of the track at Turn 3 with flames leaping from the rear of his car.
The VSC is deployed... and then the Safety Car.
Russell immediately pits from 5th as do Ricciardo and Hulkenberg.
Next time around, still under the safety car, Leclerc pits, as do Bottas and Zhou.
Behind the safety car, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen - who is still complaining about the handling of his car - Sainz, Perez, Hamilton, Russell, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon and Schumacher. That said, Magnussen pits.
"Keep checking what it could be, something..." urges Verstappen. However, he is assured that it is not a reliability issue. "Max, steering update, we are staying out," he is firmly told
"The safety car needs to go quicker on the straight," warns Leclerc.
"Lapped cars may now overtake the Safety Car: 18, 23, 3, 4, 6, 27."
"From what we can see the situation is stable," Verstappen is assured.
Having not pitted, Schumacher is tenth, which means both Haas' are in the points. However, at the restart he'll be under pressure from Tsunoda and Alonso.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of lap 50.
Leclerc backs up the field... Verstappen clearly desperate to get going again.
They're away, and Sainz almost nails Verstappen on the straight by the Dutchman holds him off.
Further back, Tsunoda passes Schumacher for tenth.
Leclerc posts a new fastest lap (34.570) as he builds a 1.4s cushion. Alonso passes Schumacher for 11th.
Verstappen under pressure from Sainz as Perez loses ground to the Ferrari. Indeed, Hamilton is closing on the Mexican.
Two laps after the restart, DRS is enabled... allowing Zhou to pass Schumacher.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Bahrain, here.
Sainz closes in on the struggling Verstappen. "What's going on with the battery," cries the Dutchman.
Moments later Sainz seizes the moment to make it a Ferrari 1-2.
"We can see the issue Max, it is not battery related." "What do you want me to do," he responds. "There's not a lot you can do," comes the reply. Whatever it is, he is passed by Perez, Hamilton, Russell and whole host of rivals as he drops down the field.
The world champion pits at the end of lap 54.
"I'm losing power," warns Perez, as Hamilton closes in on the second Bull. "Hang on, you've got two laps to go," the Mexican is told.
At the start of lap 57, the last lap, Perez spins in Turn 1. The crowd cheers.
Hamilton takes third, Russell fourth and Magnussen fifth!
"A lock-up from the engine," reveals Perez.
Leclerc takes the flag, leading home Sainz for a Ferrari 1-2. Hamilton takes the final podium position.
"Big, big congratulations to Ferrari," says Hamilton, "so good to see them doing well again.
"Such a difficult race," he adds, "we've struggled throughout practice and this was the best result we could. We're grateful for these points.
"The guys are working really hard back at the factory, there's a long way to go."
"Ferrari's back, and is properly back," declares Sainz. "The hard work is paying off and we are there.
"I didn't have the pace today," he admits, "but I managed to hang in there and bring back the one-two for the team."
"So happy," grins Leclerc. "We knew this was a big opportunity for the team and the guys have done an incredible job building into amazing car.
"One-two today with Carlos, we couldn't hope for better. It's incredible to be back at the top."
Well, that, as they say, is exactly what the doctor ordered.
One hesitates to check out social media where the usual suspects will be dripping with schadenfreude.
However, putting all that silliness aside, and appreciating that this is only the first instalment in a season of 23 races, this is probably the perfect start.
Leclerc's win was no fluke, it was a measured, mature drive, that of a champion one might say.
Though it was the Bulls issues that allowed Sainz to make it a 1-2, the fact is the Spaniard was there, indeed he's been there throughout, including testing.
Hamilton gets a podium, which is probably much more than he expected, while Russell, despite the obvious issues facing Mercedes, makes it a 3-4, so clearly the foundation is in place.
And then there's Magnussen and Bottas, the Dane having a great race, while the Finn was able to make up for that poor start. With Zhou finishing tenth - on his debut - that's five Ferrari powered cars in the top ten.
Both Alpines in the points along with an Alpha, while McLaren will be keen to leave here as soon as possible.
Not a great race, indeed much of it was tumbleweed material, but suddenly it sprang to life, even if those final laps evoked memories of Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull will go away to lick its wounds and discover what went wrong, the fact that the three retirements were all Honda - or Red Bull Powertrains - supplied no doubt causing some concern in Milton Keynes.
Is this what we needed, did this give the sport the credibility is needed?
We'll let you be the judge.
But in all honesty, the taste in our mouths is altogether different to what it was 98 days ago.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Bahrain, here.