Verstappen has begun his first monologue of the season with an unappealable victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix. No one has been able to trouble him in 57 laps and judging by the superiority displayed by the three-time champion, Fernando Alonso’s cruel prediction after the preseason is confirmed: “19 drivers already know that they are not going to be champions in 2024.” Sergio Pérez completed the party by securing the first double of the year for Red Bull, with a heroic Carlos Sainz challenging his teammate Leclerc to get on the podium.
Things have not turned out for Alonso as his fans expected. F1 simulations placed him ninth with the new Aston Martin and that’s how it turned out. The mirage in free practice and qualifying has been diluted in a race that has only had one owner and in which Sainz has given a recital of driving and perseverance to beat Leclerc for the first time this year.
The Madrid driver, who faces his last campaign with Ferrari colors, after the high-profile signing of Lewis Hamilton for the Scuderia starting in 2025, now competes with ambition and without complexes. He has demonstrated this by imposing his criteria on the Maranello wall, launching himself without ‘mercy’ against an erratic Leclerc and with an evident lack of rhythm compared to his teammate.
Leclerc, in trouble
Max, who yesterday scored his 33rd pole in F1, controlled the start without any problems, which left Stroll and Hülkenberg with no options. The German rammed into the Canadian Aston Martin driver and both fell to the back of the pack. Leclerc stayed in Max’s wake, waiting for the DRS to be activated on the second lap, but the Monegasque, very nervous, not only was he unable to catch up with the Red Bull, but he was overtaken by Russell.
The Mercedes seemed to have more pace than Leclerc’s Ferrari, which later gave way to Checo Pérez. Sainz, who had lost position with the Mexican from the start, came with more speed and suggested to the Maranello wall the possibility of attacking his teammate. Alonso, alone in the face of danger, has had no chance against the McLarens and has dropped to eighth place.
Insulting advantage
Verstappen’s superiority with the new RB20 was overwhelming and after ten laps his advantage over Russell was already more than seven seconds. Hamilton, seeing Alonso’s problems in maintaining DRS with Piastri, has gone after the Asturian, who has had a more discreet start to the season than the AMR24’s performance in free practice and qualifying predicted.
Sainz did not wait to launch his attack on Leclerc, who defended himself unsuccessfully against the very aggressive Spaniard from Madrid. The Monegasque and also Russell have advanced their pitstops (V12), which provisionally left the Spaniard third in the wake of the two Red Bulls. The ‘season’ has been opened in the pit lane and many have stopped, while Verstappen and the two Spaniards have squeezed out their stint on the soft ones.
Carlos has returned to the track just behind Leclerc, but with ‘fresh’ tires, while Pérez has gained the upper hand over Russell. The man from Madrid, with great pace, completed his second overtake on his teammate, who continued to have difficulties braking also on the hard compound. “The car is dangerous,” Charles complained. Sainz, on the fastest lap, overtook Russell to place third, focused on Checo.
Sainz, on the podium
The second stop to face the final stretch of the race has not changed the scenario too much, with Sainz maintaining his chances for a podium and hard tires for the last twenty laps and the Red Bulls in command with soft tires. Checo kept Carlos at bay, while Russell and Leclerc fought a tense fight for fourth position, which was decided in favor of the Monegasque. Alonso has had to resign himself to a discreet ninth place, ahead of his teammate Stroll and very far from the McLaren that preceded him.
A jug of cold water for Alonso’s fans and for Aston Martin’s expectations, after the unexpected and brilliant start last year, when they got on the podium and were the only ones who stood up to Red Bull. They will have to evolve a lot in the next races to be on par with the ‘big guys’.
2024-03-02 16:40:00
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