The evidence from the three days of Formula 1 testing at Sakhir circuit last week indicated that the reigning champions, who emerged victorious in all but one of the 22 grands prix last year, were poised to continue their dominance. Despite team principal Christian Horner facing allegations, which he vehemently denies, from a female employee regarding his behavior, Red Bull appeared unruffled. Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin all expressed confidence in their new cars, claiming that any technical issues had been resolved and performance had been enhanced, but the true proof is yet to be seen. It is suspected that when the race begins on Saturday night, with the first two rounds of the season in the Middle East taking place a day earlier than usual to accommodate Ramadan, Red Bull will be the first to cross the finish line. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella informed reporters in Bahrain that there is one car that has made significant strides forward, unfortunately, it is the same car that was already the fastest last year. Fans who desire more closely contested races at the front and seek change after Red Bull’s dominance with 38 wins in the last 44 races hope that the gap, if it exists as feared, will narrow as the season progresses. The stability of the Formula 1 regulations for a considerable period typically leads to a closer competition among the teams. Daniel Ricciardo, in an interview with Reuters, mentioned that with the increase in the number of races, there is more track time, data, and opportunity to observe other cars and their developments. He believes that no one is panicking at this stage, as the season is long and developments can have a significant impact. Ferrari, the only team to defeat Red Bull last year, set the fastest lap time in testing, while Mercedes was encouraged by a car that was less challenging to handle compared to its predecessor. Mercedes technical director James Allison stated after the testing in Bahrain that it is not surprising that Red Bull is ahead of the teams chasing them, but he believes that Mercedes will put up a good fight and continue to make strong progress throughout the year.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time F1 world champion, will bid farewell to Mercedes this season as he prepares to join Ferrari in 2025, taking over Carlos Sainz’s position. The discussion surrounding Hamilton’s replacement will dominate conversations for the coming months, as well as the uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen’s future teammate, with Sergio Perez’s contract set to expire at the end of this year. Speculation is already rampant, despite no racing having taken place yet, and with over half of the grid’s contracts coming to an end, the speculation is expected to continue.
China will make its return to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2019, while Italy’s Imola circuit will also be back after last year’s race was canceled due to flooding. The upcoming season will feature six sprint weekends, with Miami and Shanghai being added to the mix. Additionally, the format has been revised to include a 100km race on Saturday, followed by qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix.
Surprisingly, there are no rookie drivers this season, and the lineups remain unchanged since the conclusion of the 2023 season. However, there have been changes in team management, with Guenther Steiner being replaced by Ayao Komatsu at Haas, a favorite of the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.” Furthermore, Laurent Mekies now assumes the role of team boss at the rebranded Visa Cash App RB (previously known as AlphaTauri, or Scuderia Toro Rosso). Lastly, Sauber-run Alfa Romeo is now competing as Stake F1, in accordance with gambling laws. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)