Motorsport News March 24, 2022

The memories of Abu Dhabi in 2021 were put firmly to bed on Sunday in what was an excellent grand prix. Ferrari was to the fore, Mercedes was in the mire and Red Bull was in crisis in a race that had dramas by the bucket load There is always something satisfying when Ferrari wins, but even the Italian team could not have expected its 1-2 finish, the first it has taken since 2019. But the pace of the red machines was genuine and Charles Leclerc has marked himself out as a future World champion. Given the trials of the rival teams, this could be his moment to pounce – and Carlos Sainz is likely to be hard in his wheeltracks. The most pleasing aspect of the entire grand prix was the…

Formula 1’s long-awaited new era finally arrived in Bahrain and delivered Ferrari’s first victory for 45 races. It was the 85th 1-2 finish for the Italian team and its first season-opening triumph for 12 years.As the fireworks lit up the night sky, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz. It gave the many Ferrari fans around the world something to cheer about at last. Following on from testing and the opening day’s practice running, the chat in the Sakhir paddock was that Red Bull would be the team to beat.After qualifying on the front row, Max Verstappen was indeed Leclerc’s biggest threat for the race win. But just a few laps from the chequered flag a fuel problem with Verstappen’s power unit forced the reigning World…

Bahrain Grand Prix, Laps: 57 Distance: 308.238km Track: Sakhir 11 Mick Schumacher (Haas-Ferrari) +32.574s; 12 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) +45.873s; 13 Alex Albon (Williams-Mercedes) +53.932s; 14 Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren-Mercedes) +54.975s; 15 Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes) +56.335s; 16 Nicholas Latifi (Williams-Mercedes) +61.795s; 17 Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin-Mercedes) +63.829s; 18 Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 56 laps/engine; 19 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 54 laps/engine; 20 Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 44 laps/engine. Drivers’ Championship: 1 Leclerc 26 points; 2 Sainz 18; 3 Hamilton 15; 4 Russell 12; 5 Magnussen 10; 6 Bottas 8. Constructors’ Championship: 1 Ferrari 44 points; 2 Mercedes 27; 3 Haas 10; 4 Alfa Romeo 9; 5 Alpine 8; 6 AlphaTauri 4.…

McLaren’s disappointing start can partly be put down to time lost in testing, but the team admits there is a lot of work to be done. Lando Norris managed a lowly 15th in Bahrain while Daniel Ricciardo – who missed testing because of Covid – was only one place ahead. Lack of running in the test was caused by overheating brakes which meant they didn’t get the chance to hone a set-up for the Sakhir track. While the car isn’t suffering from the porpoising that other teams have endured, work is needed to improve both downforce and mechanical grip. “We were a bit on the back foot with what happened to us at the last test, missing out on a lot of laps,” said team principal Andreas Seidl. “We miss a second to Mercedes,”…

Mercedes figures have admitted they are missing “half a second a lap” as the eight-time consecutive constructors’ champion was ranked the third-fastest team at the new season’s opening race. The overhaul of the regulations has caused a headache for the Brackleybased outfit which is suffering with porpoising on the straights. Although the team benefited from Red Bull’s retirement to finish third and fourth in Bahrain, team boss Toto Wolff said the priority now was to “unleash the performance we hope there is in the car.” Lewis Hamilton added: “Those guys ahead of us are just in another league. We’ll need to make improvements, given where we’ve been the last few weeks and the struggle we have had. The car has been a bit of a nightmare to drive.” There is little turnaround with the…

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner said that the late retirement of both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez was the title-winning team’s “worst nightmare” in the Bahrain Grand Prix Verstappen had been battling for the win with Ferraris Charles Leclerc when his machine was struck by a suspected fuel pump issue with two laps to go. One tour later, the same problem afflicted Perez’s car and he spun to a halt. It meant the squad missed out on a potential 30 points in the constructors’championship Horner told Sky Sports: “I can’t remember the last time that happened to us, but it’s obviously your worst nightmare. It’s hugely disappointing, not only to lose a podium with Max but on the last lap to lose a podium with Checo as well. [It…