Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari F1-75, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18 ,and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13
Autosport Plus

What the 2022 Bahrain GP battles taught F1 about the impact of its new era

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OPINION: Formula 1’s long-awaited new car formula made its race debut in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. There were good signs it may achieve its key aims, but those came alongside issues causing for alarm for some of the championship’s big players

Right now, Formula 1 is riding the crest of a wave. There are legions of new fans brought in by the success and profiles of new young drivers from across Europe. Netflix’s Drive to Survive is finally giving credence to the idea of the championship cracking America. The first Chinese driver has started an F1 race and scored a brilliant debut point. Across the globe, fans starved of in-person entertainment during the pandemic are buying tickets for returning races in huge numbers.

How great then for F1 and the engineers that created the new car formula designed to enhance the championship’s racing product to further please existing fans and bring in even more, that the fight for the win in last weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix contained a thrilling phase of wheel-to-wheel fighting.

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