By: Dear Formula1.it friends, the Bahrain GP in rain-soaked Malaysia has also come to an end: what twists and turns it gave us! From the FIA’s embarrassment, via Ferrari’s strategic error, to the exploits of Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso, as well as George Russell’s title surrender: there is certainly no shortage of talking points and our verdicts can wait no longer. Are you ready? Let’s begin!
In the land of tigers, the lion roars again
He came close in Baku, but in Malaysia he left nothing for his rivals: Max Verstappen (10) pulls off the feat and claims his first win of the season, in a weekend in which he and his RB22 were clearly the best on track. There is no point hiding it: everyone had missed seeing him up there. Learning that he has reached 72 wins at just 29 years old, matching Schumacher’s tally with Ferrari, is truly something special. Welcome back, SuperMax!
Applause too for Red Bull, which has clearly stepped up a gear over the past few rounds. Hadjar’s excellent fifth place (8) is proof of that: could it slowly be beginning its climb towards the top? 2027 is already shaping up to be interesting.
Between one dream drawing closer and another going up in smoke
Mixed emotions at Mercedes, with George Russell (7 as consolation) once again betrayed by his car, while good old Kimi Antonelli (8) sees the world title closer than ever.
There is no longer such a relaxed atmosphere within the team: the new upgrade package has not got the spaceship flying—rather, it has left it stranded. Singapore will be a crucial round to understand whether this was merely a temporary flaw or a “development” to throw in the bin. One thing is certain: Mr Grumpy is now out of the title fight.
Everything changes, except at Ferrari
A wet race that could have delivered a double podium or perhaps, who knows, even a fight for victory. Instead, once again, Ferrari got the strategy wrong (N.C.). Luckily, we have drivers of the calibre of Charles Leclerc (8) and Lewis Hamilton (9), who, after slipping disastrously to the back of the field, armed themselves with their talent and fought their way back towards the front.
The Briton takes another dream podium, while the Monegasque follows him home, aware that it was impossible to do any more than that. And while others evolve or learn from their mistakes, everything remains the same in Maranello: guys, do not be afraid, we like change! So embrace it.
From papaya ghosts and the tiger’s return to Italian-made success
McLaren managed to finish in the points with both drivers, having tried every compound in the range and risked a double retirement through the major lapse in concentration of Lando Norris (5), who nearly took out good old Piastri (6.5), who at least managed to finish in the points this time. From heroes to zeroes at Papaya, powerless in the face of difficulties that they too “need to understand”.
Fernando Alonso (9) is the one celebrating, as a superb eighth place puts Aston Martin back in the points: a true Malaysian tiger of a race from a driver still capable of fighting with the youngsters. Staying on the subject of youth, Lindblad (8.5) continues to impress, managing to finish his race in tenth after starting from the back. Together with Lawson’s seventh place (8), they cement Racing Bulls’ fifth place in the constructors’ standings, with the team increasingly a protagonist in the midfield.
The FIA software bug also features among the failures
Finally, on to the biggest flops: after the FIA’s huge error at the start, when it turned the cars into puppets, the internet has been talking about little else. Does Formula 1 really need all this? The doubts remain, as does the huge worldwide embarrassment.
Returning to our drivers, the pairings at Williams, Haas, Audi, Cadillac and Alpine (4) are all marked down, having squandered a golden opportunity to break into the top ten. Sympathy for Sainz (5), taken out by Bortoleto, who effectively dealt a major blow to the excellent race he was having. Not too bad from Lance Stroll (5.5), who at Sepang at least finishes just one step away from the points.
Next stop, Singapore: Marina Bay is another circuit that has always given us excitement and, with rain threatening this weekend too, I would say we have every ingredient for a truly astonishing weekend.
Speak to you very soon, my friends,
Your Rompipaddock.
Full cover photo by Peter Kiss / WHYOUT images
Cover inset photo taken from Today.it
Internal cover photo by Peter Kiss / WHYOUT images
