Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Sunday, 20/03/2022
The wait is finally over. Formula 1 returns from the season break and with it our predictions on what will happen in Formula 1. For the start of the season I provide you with my F1 tip on the Bahrain GP.
This season should be no less exciting than the last. Because with completely new cars, different rules and new faces, there should be a close fight for the world championship title again this year.
But one thing is already clear before this season, when it comes to title contenders, the way will only go through the two top favorites Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
That’s why in my Formula 1 forecast for the 1st Free Practice in Bahrain I also believe in a duel between Mercedes and Red Bull with advantages for the Dutchman.
The testing is over and it’s like every year before the season starts and yet everything is different. Like every year, Mercedes is stacking the deck low ahead of this season.
The car is not yet ready for world championship, the competition meanwhile only acknowledges this with a tired smile.
However, no real conclusions about favorites and underdogs could be drawn from the tests in Barcelona and Bahrain. While Ferrari and Red Bull performed very strongly, Mercedes in particular struggled with the “bouncing effect”, as did other teams.
But less with the bouncing of the car, but much more with power drops. Particularly on the straights, but also in the corners, a few seconds were still missing on the competition.
Nevertheless, it was enough to set the fastest lap times in Barcelona. McLaren had much bigger problems with the car and the technology, falling far behind other teams like Alfa Romeo, which seemed stable. At the back of the field, it will be a battle between Haas and Williams again this year.
The American team is relying on a new old acquaintance Kevin Magnussen, who is back in Formula 1 after two years. Williams, on the other hand, had to replace Russell after last season and has a very young driver duo in Nicolas Latifi and Alexander Albon.
However, the two racing teams were worlds apart during the tests, which is why some experts also see Williams as being behind in the battle for the final places.
But the teams didn’t really show their cards until the last day and only at the end there were some race simulations.
That’s why it’s also hard to pinpoint the main contender for victory ahead of the 2022 season opener in Bahrain.
But this season I believe that besides the two top favorites Red Bull and Mercedes, Ferrari could also play a bigger role and that’s why I generally assume a three-way battle of the big racing teams in F1 betting.
And it could start right away in Bahrain. The race, which starts at sunset and ends at night, is a demanding track with seven braking events. The tires will be put under a lot of stress here, so the new tire material will be put to the test right away.
Last year, Red Bull initially dominated this track, but the race was then won by Hamilton in a seconds thriller. It’s no wonder that the reigning world champion is expecting good chances again and wants to take the win this time.
While rival Mercedes had its problems in the run-up to the race, Verstappen’s RB18 ran very smoothly.
The new aero package at the last test on the same track also put a smile on motorsport boss Dr. Helmut Marko’s face.
With impressive performance and seven tenths faster than the competition, Verstappen is already very familiar with the new car.
The last 5 races at the Bahrain International Circuit:
Nevertheless, German bookmakers see Lewis Hamilton as the favorite to win the title again in Formula 1 betting on the world champion, with odds of around 2.37. Verstappen, on the other hand, gets odds of 2.87.
Just as exciting is a bet on race wins. Of course, the majority will be decided between Verstappen and Hamilton.
However, the teammates of the favorite duo, Perez and Russell, should not be written off either. The Mexican already showed what he can do last season and Russell’s first win with this car is also a matter of time.
Nevertheless, the odds for three race wins of around 2.62 are justified accordingly, as the rookie will gain experience and work for Hamilton. Perez, on the other hand, gets odds of around 3.50 for two race wins.
Looking ahead to the first two practice sessions, the second one in particular will be exciting, as the time of day means that qualifying and race conditions can be simulated there, so the afternoon session could see the first really meaningful lap times set alongside routine practice.
Conclusion: Red Bull made the best impression from the test runs. With the new aero package and stable car, Verstappen and co should dominate in practice, as they did last year.
Mercedes, on the other hand, will have to tune its car a bit more. Nevertheless, it will be a close battle for the best times.
Ferrari also seemed to have the strongest car in the tests, so they currently have a clear advantage over rival McLaren, which is struggling with the brakes in particular.
My F1 GP Bahrain tip is: Verstappen dominates the first Free Practice
