After a series of tests, practice sessions, and qualifying rounds that suggested the competition was catching up to Red Bull, Max Verstappen easily dominated the opening race of the 2024 Formula 1 season in Bahrain.
Will this season be a repeat of the last one? Or is there still hope for closer races in the future? Some may argue that this level of dominance is bad for F1, but others believe it should be admired as one of the greatest performances in the history of the sport.
Verstappen’s victory margin is not what concerns me the most; it’s the effortless manner in which he achieved it. Even with a lead of over 20 seconds, it seemed like he could have extended it even further if necessary. This is a worrying sign for his competitors.
While Ferrari didn’t showcase their full potential in this race, there was a glimpse of what they could have achieved. With a flawless performance, they might have been able to challenge the second Red Bull car. However, the destruction of the opposition by Verstappen proves that Red Bull had more up their sleeves than initially anticipated.
Verstappen’s dominance was expected, as he continued his winning streak from the previous season without any major obstacles. However, the circumstances of the race skewed the scale of his domination. Apart from his teammate Sergio Perez, no other driver in the leading group had a clean race. Various issues, such as traffic and technical problems, hindered their performance.
Red Bull deserves recognition for their exceptional performance. Despite the efforts of their rivals to find ways to beat them during the winter break, Red Bull has once again set a high standard. Verstappen’s victory margin could have been even greater, and Perez did an excellent job securing second place. The other teams struggled to keep up with Red Bull’s pace.
It’s not surprising that Red Bull has maintained their dominance. They have a deep understanding of the ground effect cars and Max Verstappen is the perfect driver to maximize their potential. The gaps between Red Bull and their closest competitors, Ferrari and Mercedes, in terms of lap times are significant. Closing this gap will not be an easy task for these teams.
As someone who closely follows F1, it’s disappointing to see a race that mirrors the previous season. Despite the anticipation of a closer competition, the outcome suggests otherwise. F1 cannot afford to have such an easy victory for Verstappen and Red Bull for the next two years. The sport thrives on the diversity of winners and the excitement of unpredictable races.
The essence of F1 lies in its diversity, with 10 teams striving to build the fastest cars within the framework of the rulebook. Unlike other racing championships that impose stricter regulations, F1 allows for greatness to flourish. Red Bull’s superb car and Verstappen’s exceptional talent showcase this greatness. While it would be more interesting to have different winners each week, the pure dominance demonstrated by Verstappen is what captivates fans and makes them fall in love with the sport.
Perhaps it’s time to consider changing F1’s DNA, although I am personally against it. In a race where we witnessed one of the best-ever drivers deliver a masterclass performance, the driver of the day finished over 20 seconds behind and had a relatively uneventful race. Instead of resisting this greatness, people should embrace and appreciate it.