| A pulsating start to the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain served up some great racing and huge late drama in equal measure. For Ferrari, vindication for pouring all its resources into the 2022 car – although a 1-2 finish probably exceeded its own expectations from the season opener. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivered the perfect start to its campaign but both realise it won’t be so easy next weekend in Jeddah. Red Bull pushed Ferrari hard in Bahrain but was left licking its wounds after two late failures that appear related to its fuel pump system. That binned a certain podium finish, and old foe Mercedes gleefully accepted a 3-4 result that its pace didn’t deserve. Elsewhere, Haas’s fifth position with Kevin Magnussen must’ve felt like a win for a driver who thought his F1 career was history just a few weeks ago. And Valtteri Bottas made a fine start (if not a good getaway!) to life at Alfa Romeo in sixth. McLaren appears to be the big loser from F1’s new-look cars and has much work to do if it is to escape a season of racing fellow Mercedes customers Aston Martin and Williams towards the rear of the field. By: Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief
Motorsport.com | 
