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Lights and shadows in the desert

Lights and Shadows: F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 28: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda leads Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 28, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202103280122 // Usage for editorial use only //

Desert hallucination is an optical phenomenon that makes you believe you see things that actually are not there. However, the spectacle witnessed by millions of Formula 1 fans in Bahrain was quite a real thing. But as it usually happens in hostile environments, clarity and darkness shape a race that would be remembered for its lights and shadows.  

Fog over track-limits 

Let’s start with the track-limits confusion, after the complaint made by Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton was told to respect the track limits in corner 4, The same spot where Max Verstappen overtook him moving off the track, which resulted in the Dutch ceding his position to the seven-times World Champion, a taste of its own medicine, would say some.

Nevertheless, Formula 1 cannot let this happen again, the race director should not change the rules of the game in the middle of a race whenever a team complaints. Situations like this only create confusion amongst drivers and fans, something the sport must avoid if they really want to expand its fan-base.

Let’s be honest, nobody likes seeing a sport whose rules change all of sudden. People enjoy watching football because its rules are universal, easy and simple; Formula 1 is a more complex sport, let’s do a favour to those who are discovering the sport, and make things easier for them.  

Experience does not always come with a prize

This season we have up to 14 world champions fighting on the track, however, that does not mean they are superior. Indeed, Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, had not had the best star. It would not be fair judging the German by his last year in Ferrari or the sanctions in Bahrain; yet one cannot deny the fact that the Aston-Martin driver is far from his golden age. With only one race completed, fans are crossing their fingers to see the best version of a driver who still has a great deal of talent in his gloves. 

Less turbulent was Alonso’s debut with Alpine. The Spaniard had to retire following a brake failure, a setback that shows that the French manufacture still has a lot to improve to be in the top flight. 

McLaren runs for the third party 

A spectacular performance by Lando Norris (P4), and Daniel Ricciardo (P7) highlights the potential of the British car and threatens the improvement of the Ferrari. The Italian outfit remains distant from the top, and hose years when every podium was red-coloured seems now ancient history.

It’s rained a lot since Kimi Raikkonen won the last championship of Ferrari in 2007, 14 years to be exact; however, the Scuderia has gone through darker times. It was in the eighties when the Red team spent 21 years without securing a championship. With still time to reverse the situation, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will have to work an extra mile to beat an inspired McLaren.

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