By: Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief Motorsport.com
What a brilliant way to open the Formula 1 2021 season, with a pulsating Bahrain Grand Prix that was in doubt until the final yards of the race.
Hats off to Lewis Hamilton. What a great reminder of his ability behind the wheel to win a race while not driving the best car. His first flying laps on the hard tyre, which gained track position on Max Verstappen via the undercut, set the tone and rocked Red Bull on to a strategic back foot.
Should Max have won that race? Yes, I think he should. The Red Bull was definitely the faster car in Bahrain but he was outfoxed by a bold Mercedes strategy and Hamilton’s brilliance at holding on for 28 laps on his tyres at the end. Only Lance Stroll also attempted that, and he lost a place to Yuki Tsunoda on the very last lap!
The only downside for me in that race was an apparent inconsistency in applying the track limits at Turn 4. Hamilton definitely gained some lasting advantage by running way wide on his charging second stint, and yet the race director only seemed to impose any warnings after Max Verstappen was told he should do the same. It felt like moving the goalposts… |
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