Race Weekend Central

F1 Review: Ferrari Starts Strong, Magnussen Surprises, McLaren Mystifies

Bahrain Haas Onz2913 174

Haas F1 celebrates after their drivers finish fifth and 11th at the F1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix (credit: HaasF1 Media)

Ferrari started the F1 season with a 1-2 showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Red Bull faltered at the end of the race allowing Mercedes to earn vital points. McLaren looked like a mess as their former driver Kevin Magnussen scored a fifth-place finish for Haas.

Charles Leclerc Finds Redemption in Bahrain, Reliability Undermines Red Bull

Leclerc Bahrain 2019

(Photo: FIA)

Two years after engine troubles cost him the Bahrain Grand Prix by only three laps, Charles Leclerc has found redemption in Sakhir. He won the Formula 1 season opening grand prix and led every lap in the process. Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz followed him home in second place, with Lewis Hamilton rounding out the …

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Charles Leclerc Nabs First F1 Pole of 2022 at Bahrain

Leclerc Bahrain 2019

(Photo: FIA)

Charles Leclerc parlayed a long winter workload by the Ferrari team into securing pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit, the first weekend of F1 racing in 2022. Defending champion Max Verstappen came up just 0.123 of a second off the pole, and will start the race besides Leclerc in second. Ferrari’s other driver, Carlos …

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Slipstream Saturday: Ferrari & Red Bull Lead in Bahrain; New Car Issues Abound

leclerc

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 18: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 18, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203180427 // Usage for editorial use only //

Ferrari placed its drivers at the front in the first two practices of the Bahrain GP, with Max Verstappen looking to start his title defense off right. Other teams, like Mercedes, McLaren, and Alpine face struggles with the new F1 car.

F1 Midweek: Checking the Sportʻs Pulse with a Season-Opening Roundtable

Formula 1 Testing In Bahrain Day 1

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 10: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 10, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203100708 // Usage for editorial use only //

Before the lights go out to start the 2022 Formula 1 season, our writers offer a roundtable to discuss some of the notable storylines. 

Slipstream Saturday: The F1 Barcelona Test – Pace, Porpoising, Power, & Politics

2022 Barcelona Pre Season Test, Day 3 Wolfgang Wilhelm

2022 Barcelona Pre-Season Test, Day3 - Wolfgang Wilhelm

With the first pre-season test for the Formula 1 season over, it is time to look at some of the storylines that emerged from Barcelona.

Slipstream Saturday: FIA Rejects Mercedes Appeal, F1’s Middle Eastern Presence Grows

2021 Qatar Grand Prix, Friday Lat Images

Mercedes on track at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, Friday (credit: LAT Images / Mercedes AMG)

When the checkered flag falls on Sunday’s (Nov 21) Qatar Grand Prix, there will be only two races remaining in the 2021 Formula 1 season. In previous years, the title has been securely in the hands of Sir Lewis Hamilton by this point. However, Max Verstappen has been resolute in his aim to break Hamilton’s …

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F1 Midweek: Who Could Play Spoiler at the Brazilian Grand Prix?

Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly at the Italian GP (Photo: Miguel Medina/Getty Images)

With the Sao Paulo Grand Prix set to end a three-race stint for Formula 1 in the Americas, many pundits have been predicting that this race could lead to another incident between championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The two have already come together notably at Silverstone and Monza but they doing their best …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Magnificent in Mexico, Lost Opportunities Aplenty

2021 Mexico Formula 1 Max Verstappen Lars Baron Getty Red Bull

(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen failed to earn the pole for the Mexican Grand Prix and it may have been a blessing in disguise. His third-place starting position allowed him to use the slipstream to blow past the Mercedes front row and then steal off into the distance. With P1 secure, he tore away from second-place Lewis Hamilton …

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F1 Review: Steady & Smooth Valtteri Bottas Wins Wet Turkish Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas celebrates winning the Turkish Grand Prix, drinking champagne, LAT Images

Valtteri Bottas celebrating his Turkish GP win (Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

Valtteri Bottas nailed the start of the Turkish Grand Prix and then set sail on his way to claiming his 10th win in Formula 1. Bottas’ last win came at the Russian GP in 2020 and he had struggled through some poor performances in 2021, but after starting from pole, he put together a clean …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Peerless in F1’s Return to the Dutch Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix Of The Netherlands

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 05: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // SI202109051288 // Usage for editorial use only //

By the end of the first lap, Max Verstappen had cleared Lewis Hamilton by almost two seconds and from then on, he faced no challenge in claiming the win at the Dutch Grand Prix. Formula 1 returned to Zandvoort, Netherlands for the first time since 1985 on Sunday (Sept. 5) and the scene surrounding Verstappen’s …

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Slipstream Saturday: Max Verstappen Wins Pole for the Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen

(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen ripped off a perfect lap to earn the pole for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on Saturday (Sept 4).  Lewis Hamilton pushed his Mercedes to the edge in an attempt to deny Verstappen’s bid to lead the field at his home GP but came up .038 of a second short.  Valtteri …

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