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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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. 

F1 Midweek: Saying Cheers to 2021 in Roundtable Fashion

Max Verstappen

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

This week the Frontstretch Formula 1 crew looks back at the 2021 season.  From the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to Esteban Ocon’s surprising win to the question of how many races the US should host, they offer their thoughts on many of the year’s top storylines. Favorite moments of the season Caleb …

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F1 Midweek: Examining the Abu Dhabi GP Ending and What To Do Differently

2021 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton start overtakes Verstappen Peter Fox Getty

(Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

This week we’ve got a roundtable discussion on the controversial ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that saw Max Verstappen benefit from race director’s Michael Masi strange decision-making process.  First calling off having lapped cars unlap themselves, then reversing the decision, then pulling in the safety car without the one-lap grace period all amounted …

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It’s Official: Max Verstappen Is World Driver’s Champion

2021 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton start overtakes Verstappen Peter Fox Getty

(Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

After hours of deliberation, the FIA has ruled not to uphold protests by Mercedes-AMG Petronas, giving both the race win and the World Driver’s Championship to Max Verstappen. To make a long story short, Lewis Hamilton was leading Verstappen by 11 seconds with just a handful of laps to go when a full course safety …

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F1 Title Decided in 1-Lap Sprint, Mercedes Protests Results

Formula 1's Lewis Hamilton congratulates Max Verstappen after 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lars Baron Getty Images

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

Max Verstappen’s breakout Formula 1 title campaign ended on the top step of the podium under the Dutch flag after a controversial, but nail-biting, one-lap sprint to decide the championship. However, that sprint is now under protest from Mercedes. From the race’s start, Lewis Hamilton was on his usual form, maintaining a healthy lead over …

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Max Verstappen Wins 1st World Championship Title on Last Lap Pass

Max Verstappen

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

All season long Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been at each others throats for this world championship. From a tense battle at the season opening race Bahrain to incidents at Imola, Britain, Jeddah, Brazil and Italy, Formula 1’s best season ever came to an exhilarating end for one driver and a crushing defeat for …

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Slipstream Saturday: Max Verstappen Grabs Pole Ahead of Final Race in Abu Dhabi

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 11, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The final pole position, and possibly the championship-deciding pole position, went to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who snatched first place by a sizable margin over his title rival Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen got the job done on his first run, picking up a slipstream from his teammate Sergio Perez and setting a blistering 1:22.109 lap time. …

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2021 F1 Championship Drama Heads to Abu Dhabi

F1 Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi Previews

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 09: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talk in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 09, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Antonin Vincent - Pool/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202112090231 // Usage for editorial use only //

Formula One’s long, competitive, controversial, and tense 2021 campaign will come to a close under the lights of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday (December 12). Championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will enter the weekend tied in points, with 369.5 apiece. This is a development nearly 50 years in the making, as …

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