The Bahrain GP – answering F1’s critics.

The Bahrain Grand Prix gave us all a perfect welcome to the 2018 season.

After quite an average race in Australia all the events in Bahrain really got it going in the right direction. It pretty much had it all and was just what the sport needed to answer the criticisms following Australia.

The surprise of Pierre Gasly achieving an excellent 4th place for Toro Rosso – yes with that Honda engine! – reminded us all that, as the great Murray Walker said, “Anything can happen in Formula One and it usually does”. Whether this is a sign of things to come, personally I’m not convinced, but only time will tell.

Also the surprise retirements of both Red Bull cars, it might have cost us viewers some quality racing but it was just another twist in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

We also had some real racing. Throughout the whole race we had drivers jostling for position on track, especially close in the mid field. And as events unfolded even on the last lap we had the tension as to whether Bottas would be able to get past Vettel.

Hamilton pulled off probably the overtake of the race, by taking three positions in one as we saw 4 cars all fighting in to turn one. And of course the clash between Hamilton and Verstappen in the opening stages gave us a further talking point. My opinion on this is simply that it was a racing incident, Verstappen naturally ran wide due to the pace he was carrying in to the corner and Hamilton simply had no where to go and contact was inevitable.

Racing was enhanced by teams following and switching between multiple strategies during the race, adding tension and excitement.

Along with both Mercedes and Vettel’s Ferrari, Marcus Ericsson pulled off a good one stop strategy to gain Alfa Romeo Sauber’s first points of the season.

And Force India also gained a much needed point with Esteban Ocon gaining 10th.

With the Halo being introduced at the start of this season it has brought up the subject once again of Formula One being “too safe”. I think most true fans know how dangerous it can be where as to the casual observer it might appear safe. At the Bahrain Grand Prix we had a timely reminder. Ferrari released Kimi Raikkonen before his back left tyre had been changed and as he pulled away he ran over the mechanic waiting to put the new tyre on. The mechanic suffered a double leg fracture but was taken to hospital for an operation so is now fortunately on the mend. But I hope those who think it is too safe were watching and see how much danger is involved in the sport, on all levels from working in the garage to driving.

And of course I wish all the best and a speedy recovery to the injured mechanic and his family.

This race really had it all and I hope the rest of the season will be just as exciting. And no doubt there will be plenty more twists and turns to come on and off the track.

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