Bahrain Grand Prix: stage preview

Every year it seems that winter is getting longer and longer, but even the sun, when it breaks through the veil of clouds, warms up like spring, and March is on the calendar and the Formula 1 season begins.

The last time the season started this early was in 2002, on March 3, with a race in Melbourne. Then there were 17 stages on the calendar with France – Germany as the only double pair. This year we are waiting for 23 Grand Prix – it would be 24 if the Chinese Grand Prix hadn’t been canceled – with many doubles and even triples.

This year, Baku and Miami will separate for a week. The European part of the season starts with a series of three Grand Prix in a row – Emilia-Romagna, Monaco and Spain. The races at Spielberg and Silverstone will also be a week apart, as will Hungary-Belgium and the Netherlands-Italy that follow. At the end of the season, another series of three races in a row – in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.

It won’t be boring, but the usual two-week interval between races added exclusivity. It was clear that the next stage had to wait – and this anticipation, especially in the case of title contention, only added to the tension. And three races in a row is more like a marathon with short breaks than three separate events.

Regulations’2022 is one year old. They say if expectations come true at least halfway, it’s good. Fighting and overtaking on the track, where it was previously possible, has really become easier. But this is if the machines are equally fast or close. And the speed was dictated last year by several factors, including a side effect of ground effect – an extremely unpleasant bunching of cars on straight lines.

The best technical minds could not figure out how to get rid of this phenomenon. It was physically painful to watch the riders rocking the cars even during the broadcast, themselves complaining of neck pain and sometimes barely being able to get out of the car. The FIA ​​had to intervene, force the teams to install accelerometers and monitor their readings. Red Bull was against – Adrian Newey took this effect into account and managed to minimize it, but it was dangerous for health and negative for the image to continue in the same vein – the American media mockingly compared Formula 1 to a rodeo.

Last week, during testing in Bahrain, many had almost no build-up, some – Ferrari and especially Alpine had it. And this is on a relatively flat track in the desert. Let’s see how the situation will be over the course of the season.

Interestingly, the winner of the first Grand Prix of the season has not won the title in recent years – the last time this was achieved by Nico Rosberg in 2016.

It’s hard to judge the balance of power based on the results of the tests, but the trends are noticeable. Apparently the top three at the start of the season will remain the same: Red Bull – Ferrari – Mercedes. Aston Martin has made serious progress, the new car has no impact, it’s fast and efficient – and they have Fernando Alonso. The combination of these factors will make Lawrence Stroll’s team a formidable weapon. And if one of the strongest makes a mistake, Fernando will take his place.

Aston Martin was spoiled by Lance Stroll’s injury during a cycling session in Spain. And the fact that the team does not talk about the nature of the injuries sustained only increases the number of rumors. Brazilian media wrote that Stroll broke the wrists of both hands, but where is Spain and where is Brazil. No, Lance’s career in his father’s team is not in jeopardy, but he will start the season without testing, and he will be unknowingly compared to the speedy Drugovic when he returns to the wheel.