Bahrain GP 2022: Three drivers who can win the first race of F1’s new era 


Bahrain GP 2022: Three drivers who can win the first race of F1’s new era 

Bahrain GP

The Bahrain round of pre-season testing has ended and has laid the final foundation for the first race of the new era and the 2022 season- The Bahrain GP. This will be the eighteenth edition of Bahrain GP, and Lewis Hamilton is the driver with the most wins, with him conquering the track five times.

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This year, as the new cars come into the picture, we are expecting closer racing than we did in the early season. The first glimpse of this was visible when Carlos Sainz went head to head with Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso with Lance Stroll, and Lewis Hamilton with Pierre Gasly in the testing itself.

In the testings, three teams come up as strong contenders- Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, while McLaren is lurking behind the trio and could prove themselves as the dark horse of the season. However, despite other teams’ prowess, the aforementioned trio and their drivers are the favorites on the grid, and that stands true from the opening race of the season.

Here are the favorite drivers to win the 2022 Bahrain GP:

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Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen cruising down the tracks of Bahrain on Day Two of Testing in his RB18
Max Verstappen cruising down the tracks of Bahrain on Day Two of Testing

The reigning champion and the Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, has proven his contention for the championship in the final days of the testing as he had set some spectacular times on the track in his RB18. Max is going into the 2022 season as a defending champion, so naturally would be pushing his elbows who comes his way. The driver has also had spectacular drives on the track in the past and has taken the pole, finishing P2 in 2021.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton at podium in Bahrain
Lewis Hamilton at podium in Bahrain

The five-time and record winner on this track, the Mercedes driver must be set to take his revenge against the Max Verstappen, following all the drama that unfolded in the Abu Dhabi GP of 2021. Despite Lewis Hamilton‘s belief of the Mercedes’ W13 inability to challenge for the win, the fans know that Lewis is a master on track, and it’d be foolish to even think of keeping Lewis Hamilton out of the list of potential winners.

Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz during Bahrain testing

Ferrari, with their F1-75, has announced their comeback. The oldest team in the sport, with their drivers in the testing, have proven their pace and consistency, something with which they seemed to have struggled for a while in recent years. However, amongst the two of its drivers, Carlos Sainz seems to have triumphed over his teammate Charles Leclerc in the testing and looks more comfortable and smooth in the F1-75. He had also set the best time on the second day in the testing, making his impact on the grid.

ALSO READ: “No one gives full beans or goes to qualifying spec at testing,” Max Verstappen stays cautious of competition ahead of Bahrain GP

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