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F1 LIVE | Follow the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
- GPblog.com
The time has finally come, the Bahrain Grand Prix will start today. After four months, the drivers will take to the starting grid to race again. With new cars, new liveries, new tyres and a new ranking. There are still many unknown factors leading up to the Grand Prix, so it promises to be a race with lots of spectacle. Follow all developments via GPblog's liveblog.
Liveblog | 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
On Saturday, it was Charles Leclerc who was a fraction faster than Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz in Q3, marking his tenth pole position of his career. Three years ago, it was Bahrain where he just scored his first pole position. The differences between Ferrari and Red Bull Racing were small, while Mercedes qualified just behind them.
Can Verstappen win for the first time in the opening race?
Mercedes will therefore want to limit the damage as much as possible. Haas and Alfa Romeo will want to try to impress. Both teams are between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on the grid. Kevin Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas both did not expect to qualify so high, but will now have points as their goal.
If Red Bull were to win the race, it will be the first time in the hybrid era that they win the first Grand Prix of the season, for Ferrari we have to go back to 2018, when Sebastian Vettel managed to win in Australia. Which team will win the opening race this season remains to be seen. With new cars, accidents can happen and so there is still a lot unknown and anything can happen in Bahrain today.
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The weekend so far
Friday practice gave us a similar pattern from pre-season testing. Once again, Ferrari were planted at the top of the timesheets with Red Bull knocking on the door. Mercedes were again off the pace as porpoising at the first corner demonstrated they hadn't solved the problems. The 2021 World Champion sat in a class of his own on the long runs.
As the weekend progressed, Mercedes turned it up and in FP3 they started to challenge the top. Once again though, it was the Dutchman who reigned supreme with Ferrari on their heels. Teams turned it up for qualifying, with Alfa Romeo and Haas surprise challengers for the top 10. Hamilton limited the damage by securing P5 but it was Red Bull and Ferrari who did the talking.