The defiant Verstappen, the dazzling Alonso, the disappointing Ferrari and the tragic Mercedes

We expected a lot more from everyone but Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. The Bahrain GP, ​​the first race of the 2023 Formula One championship, turned out to be a walk in the park for the two-time Dutch world champion.

• 01. The provocative Verstappen

We expected it when we saw the qualifying results. Max Verstappen would start first and take a comfortable win. Opera and it happened, with no one threatening the Dutchman throughout the game.

But his most provocative style was on the team radio right after the finish line. It was like saying that the Netherlands national team defeated the Aruba national team in a friendly match: zero fuss!

As if he did it on purpose to show his competitors that the race was a breeze for him – which of course it was… And that it will be from now on – which it probably will be…

It is his arrogant and often argumentative nature that causes his reaction to be translated in this way. It’s like he wants to show everyone who’s boss now. Especially for Lewis Hamilton, who will not get his longed-for revenge for 2021, for Perez, who dares to raise a “Bairaki” in Red Bull, and of course for Leclerc, who thinks he can win the title … It is so When we see him, he smiles happily through his helmet.

• 02. The dazzling Alonso

They discussed it quietly before the game, between seriousness and joking. The Spaniard did it! He was on the podium for the 99th time in his F1 career, in his first GP with Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso has shown that despite his 41 years his heart says it all and he fights furiously with the stuff of a two-time world champion.

This was preceded by his stunning pass to Carlos Sainz after the virtual safety car and Hamilton before after an epic battle between them, earning his blood back for the Brit’s pass at the start.

Meanwhile, his race was almost ruined on the first lap when his teammate Lance Stroll lost his brakes at Turn 4 and hit him on the right rear wheel of the AMR23, thankfully without causing damage. However, we have to give Stroll credit for finishing sixth despite his hand problems.

• 03. The disappointing Ferrari

We believed that Charles Leclerc will be the only one who can directly compete with Verstappen. And he could if he had a decent car. We had high expectations for this year’s Ferrari car, but everything shows that the SF-23 still has neither a dynamite engine nor reliability.

If the Italians don’t find the lead soon, it seems the Monegasque will be battling for second place with Sergio Perez rather than the Dutchman for the title in 2023. Sympathy.

As for the dilemma between Leclerc and Saints, we think that this too must be answered immediately by Frédéric Vasseur before he is later asked, during an important game, to answer it as if holding a hot iron in his hands.

• 04. The tragic Mercedes

Germans are still trying to figure out what’s going on with their car. The data they have collected from all of 2022 is not enough. The W14 is worse than the W13 as it competes with Aston Martin instead of Red Bull and Ferrari – who indicate they have a Mercedes engine!

As much as Lewis Hamilton smiles in front of the camera, responds to reporters’ questions or press interviews, his heart knows what he’s up to. It is clearly the case that shows us that being a top pilot is not enough. You also need a competitive car. To Toto Wolff: If there really is an alternative plan with a different car, then now is the time…

• 05. Recruits: winners and losers

Oscar Piastri, Nick de Vries and Logan Sargeant. Of the three, only the latter has reason to celebrate after the Bahrain GP. The young American finished 12th with the not very competitive Williams. Piastri, on the other hand, didn’t show much of the talent he undoubtedly possesses before eventually retiring with an electrical issue, while we expected de Vries to be closer to teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

It also has to be said that while Williams didn’t show any significant signs of improvement over last year in testing, he did far better in the race than McLaren and Haas, finishing 10th with Alex Albon. Haas and McLaren, on the other hand, looked relatively quick on one lap but disappointed in the series.

What can you say about Esteban Ocon? There were three rookies in the race but it was the Frenchman who rode like a…rookie after taking three penalties totaling 20 inches over 10 laps!