Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix Review – What We Know About the Standings Now
Bahrain Grand Prix 2024, Carlos Sainz on Podium, source: www.ferrari.com
Formula 1 is finally back in session, and the Bahrain GP showed that the field is not as different as we might have imagined during testing. There were a few standout performances, but there is clearly a guaranteed top five and bottom five this season. In terms of performance, the distance is quite large. While a team like Alpine was in “No Man’s Land” last season, the Bahrain GP has informed us that Alpine is clearly in the bottom half of the charts now
Red Bull Stays on Top
It was no surprise to see a Red Bull leading the pack during the race. However, with their sandbagging habits taking the stage during practice sessions, many viewers wondered if the gap was closer than they had imagined. In actuality, the RB20 showed that it is vastly superior to the rest of the field. During the 2023 Bahrain GP, Verstappen was able to secure the top spot with 12 seconds ahead of the second place. This year, that gap is 22 seconds long.
It is all but settled that Max Verstappen will be earning another title this year. No team has figured out the regulations quite like Red Bull Racing.
The Podium Battles
The next four teams chasing after Red Bull are a mixed bag. While testing showed each one’s strengths in certain areas, each of them suffered a bit in the execution of their best abilities. For Ferrari, they were touted as one of the most reliable cars, but Leclerc suffered with brake issues throughout the race.
Meanwhile, Mercedes expected their car to drive a lot more predictably compared to last year. However, it just wasn’t as fast as they anticipated, and it suffered from some temperature issues.
McLaren was fighting in the top 10, but it’s clear that they had podium aspirations coming into the race.
Lastly, both Aston Martin cars are clearly capable of being in the points, but they are unable to challenge any of the other top four teams significantly.
The Best of the Rest
Teams like RB, Kick Sauber, Haas, Alpine and Williams are the bottom pack for the foreseeable future. It’s likely that we’ll be seeing these teams struggling to get the odd point during weekends. However, they’ll be outside of the points for the most part.
Drivers in this bottom pack may not be fighting for points consistently. However, they will need to impress in terms of track position. The 2025 driver market is bound to be tumultuous. Many of these teams will be looking to swap out their rosters. In lieu of that, finishing ahead of most other drivers will be an important factor.
Another Dominant Season for Red Bull
Bahrain Grand Prix is only the first race, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Red Bull will be the team to beat. Meanwhile, Ferrari seems like the second best team. However, their gap will be harder to maintain compared to Red Bull. This season has two main battles to look out for, and it’s best to focus on each one if you want an interesting viewing experience. The first battle is among the four next best teams behind Red Bull. Meanwhile, the second battle surrounds the bottom five teams for the season. If you need an underdog to root for, there are at least 10 drivers that fit that bill in 2024.