Formula 1: Everything we learned from 2024 F1 season opener at Bahrain GP
(Courtesy : Formula 1)
The Formula 1 season officially kicked off with the thrilling Bahrain Grand Prix in 2024, bringing back the excitement of racing to fans worldwide. However, as the race unfolded, it felt a bit like déjà vu, with familiar faces and storylines from the previous year’s races.
Max Verstappen’s dominance, struggles from other top drivers, and the lack of competition from his teammate was all too reminiscent of the 2023 season. Despite this, there were still moments of hope for an exciting season ahead, both on and off the track.
Let’s take a closer look at what we learned from the action-packed Bahrain Grand Prix and what it means for the upcoming races in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
10. Tension Brews Between RB Teammates
After the Bahrain race, tensions flared between Red Bull’s junior team drivers, marking a stark contrast to their usually jovial off-track personas. Despite Daniel Ricciardo’s disappointing qualifying performance, he made a late-race surgeon fresh soft tires, closing in on his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who had lost ground due to rivals undercutting earlier. Ricciardo, eager to maximize his tire performance, sought a quick swap of positions with Tsunoda but encountered hesitation from the team. Tsunoda, however, initially resisted yielding.
Both drivers held differing perspectives on the matter. Tsunoda expressed confusion, stating he received the swap call just as he was attempting to overtake another competitor. Ricciardo, on the other hand, believed the call was expected given his tire strategy.
The disagreement spilled over onto the cooldown lap, with Tsunoda engaging in erratic driving maneuvers, including a questionable move near Ricciardo’s car. This display of petulance hinted at potential tension brewing within the team, with implications for their future dynamics.
9. Rising Concerns Over Racing Dynamics
It’s uncertain whether the 2024 cars are worse for racing compared to previous models, but Bahrain wasn’t a promising sign. While the racing conditions haven’t reverted to pre-2022 issues with dirty air and downforce loss, there might have been a setback.
The FIA observed a decline in downforce retention a year ago, and drivers expressed concerns over more challenging following during the weekend. This setback is disappointing as it complicates racing, especially with the current dominance at the front.
Moreover, it hinders F1 from capitalizing on the closely matched cars behind Red Bull. While there were visible clusters of cars during the race, it didn’t translate to exciting racing, with cars maintaining distance to preserve their tires.
Perhaps, tracks less sensitive to tire management could offer better racing. However, the field’s tight spread in Q1, with less than 0.9s covering 1st to 19th, didn’t translate to competitive races in Bahrain.
8. Aston Martin’s Race Day Struggles and Development Prospects
Aston Martin finds itself in a position that Fernando Alonso aptly describes as being in “nobody’s race”. Despite a promising qualifying result, where Alonso secured sixth place, the team struggled during the grand prix and failed to contend for a podium finish. Alonso’s impressive qualifying lap did not translate into race performance, with the team finishing in ninth and tenth places, consistent with pre-race expectations.
The race saw Lance Stroll’s early setback at Turn 1, where he was spun around by Nico Hulkenberg, but he managed an impressive recovery, aided by an aggressive strategy and skillful tire management. Despite this, Aston Martin acknowledges that their new car provides a better foundation for development compared to last year’s model, even if it requires sacrifices in some areas. The team remains optimistic about the potential for effective upgrades shortly.
7. Mercedes faces Cooling Woes
During the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes initially felt optimistic about their performance, especially after securing a 1-2 finish in FP2 with Lewis Hamilton leading the pack.
However, the team realized they needed to improve their long-run performance, especially considering Red Bull’s strong showing. George Russell started third on the grid, while Hamilton struggled and began from ninth.
George Russell started third on the grid, while Hamilton struggled and began from ninth. The team faced cooling issues with their engines, causing them to reduce power to prevent overheating. This led to a loss of approximately 0.5 seconds per lap, compromising their race pace.
Additionally, Hamilton faced challenges with a broken seat, further hindering his performance. Despite these setbacks, Mercedes acknowledges that a clean race without cooling issues could have yielded better results. They remain confident in their ability to address these challenges and optimize their performance for future races.
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6. Haas’ Surprising Progress
In Bahrain, Haas faced a setback when Nico Hulkenberg’s crash overshadowed their tire management improvements. Despite a promising qualifying, Hulkenberg’s race was hampered by contact, preventing a full assessment of Haas’ progress.
However, Ayao Komatsu, Haas’ new team leader, remained optimistic, noting their significant improvement compared to last year. He was encouraged by their performance in Bahrain, suggesting they’re now competitive in the midfield. Kevin Magnussen’s strong showing added to this optimism, hinting at potential point-scoring opportunities. Komatsu’s confidence in their unexpected rise promises an exciting season ahead for Haas.
5. McLaren’s Development Path
McLaren‘s development focus has become evident as they aimed to close the gap to Red Bull but faced disappointment in Bahrain, qualifying on the fourth row and lagging behind Ferrari and even Russell’s Mercedes.
Despite struggling with their core weaknesses, McLaren remained competitive on the single lap but faced challenges with mid-corner rotation, affecting their corner entry and exit. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledges the areas for improvement, with a focus on aerodynamics and mechanical elements to enhance the car’s setup options.
Although McLaren must address lingering weaknesses, upcoming tracks like Jeddah, Melbourne, and Suzuka may better suit their strengths. Despite uncertainties, McLaren’s performance in Bahrain, securing a double points finish, suggests potential for improvement, especially in high-speed circuits. However, Norris expresses concerns about McLaren’s performance in Jeddah. Nonetheless, McLaren’s oscillating strengths and weaknesses hint at a competitive midfield battle behind Red Bull, ultimately benefiting the leading team as others vie for points among themselves.
4. Ferrari Leads the Pack Behind Red Bull
Ferrari entered the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend as a potential challenger to Red Bull, but its performance was marred by setbacks. Despite strong showings in qualifying, including Leclerc’s impressive Q2 pace, the team faced issues during the race. Leclerc struggled with significant temperature imbalances between his front tires, causing frequent lock-ups and compromising his race pace.
Meanwhile, Sainz battled brake vibrations and pedal issues, exacerbated by running in traffic. These challenges suggested that Ferrari may have been too aggressive with their brake cooling setup, hindering both drivers’ performances and masking the team’s true race pace potential.
However, Sainz’s ability to mount an overtaking race despite the difficulties indicated that Ferrari had improved its long-run tire wear from testing, offering promise for future races where tire management is crucial. This suggests that Ferrari could pose a threat in races where Red Bull’s natural advantage is minimized, presenting a potential challenge to their dominance.
3. Perez struggles again
Perez finds himself once again in a pivotal role within Red Bull Racing, akin to his position in the 2023 season. Despite a strong start from fifth on the grid in Bahrain, a late mishap in qualifying cost him crucial positions. While he showcased his racecraft with impressive overtakes, including a notable pass on Russell, Perez struggled to keep pace with teammate Verstappen’s dominant lead.
The strategic divergence between the Red Bull drivers highlighted Perez’s challenges in optimizing his race strategy amidst early battles. To effectively challenge Verstappen and contribute to the title fight, Perez must refine his approach, ensuring he maximizes his race pace while minimizing the impact of on-track skirmishes. As the season progresses, Perez’s performance will be instrumental in Red Bull Racing’s pursuit of championship success.
2. Horner’s Headache Returns
The Christian Horner controversy has taken center stage during the 2024 launch season and testing since the Red Bull team and other prominent organizations such as the FIA, Ford, and FOM wanted it resolved before the new season began.
An anonymous email was sent to prominent F1 figures, including the permanent F1 press corps, 27 minutes into Bahrain FP2. However, Horner was cleared by Red Bull GmbH’s independent investigation on Wednesday.
Although Horner denied any involvement and declined to talk about the matter, it has brought him back into the public eye. A reported internal power struggle among the team is the background against which this issue is situated.
The claims made by Jos Verstappen that “the team is in danger of being torn apart” and “there is tension here while he remains in position” highlight how unresolved this issue is. With Horner meeting separately with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on qualifying, the situation has reached unprecedented heights.
1. Déjà vu on the track
Verstappen and Red Bull reached their pinnacle performance in this race. As expected, Verstappen dominated, displaying such mastery that he could have widened the gap even further if he had chosen to push harder. Red Bull’s superiority was evident throughout.
However, it’s worth noting, perhaps optimistically, that there may not be many circuits where their advantage is as pronounced on race day. The Sakhir track played into the RB20’s strengths, particularly its ability to manage tire wear, and the race-day conditions suited the car perfectly. Verstappen’s comfort with the car was noteworthy, especially considering his tendency to nitpick minor issues.
While Verstappen and Red Bull were excellent, other teams struggled, highlighting their dominance. Ferrari encountered issues with their lead car’s starting position, Mercedes faced cooling problems, and McLaren struggled on this type of track.
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