Formula 1 racing is back in Bahrain!!!

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The wait is finally over! Formula 1 is back for its historic 2022 season which promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable yet. With sweeping new regulations and newly designed cars, a new hierarchy may be on the horizon and the top flight’s top teams are up for the challenge.

Mercedes have won the F1 constructors’ titles for a record eight consecutive years between 2014 and 2021, and they will be hoping to extend that remarkable run with their new all-British driver pairing of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

“The start of a new Formula One season is always exciting, and this year more than most,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “With new technical and sporting regulations, there is so much to learn and discover as this new season begins.” Wolff added: “It’s hard to say exactly where we’ll fit in the competitive order this weekend in Bahrain, but that’s what makes this new season and new era so exciting. It’s a clean slate for everyone and all to play for. “Like we always say, what we love about F1 is that the stopwatch never lies—and we will get our first understanding of the competitive truth on Saturday in qualifying. “I’m excited to see what the weekend has in store.”

Mercedes will also be aiming to take back the drivers’ world title they lost last season to Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen following an epic showdown that went down to the very end of the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez are once again expected to lead the Red Bull charge as one of the chief rivals to Mercedes for the teams’ title.

Meanwhile, McLaren is determined to make an improvement on their 2021 campaign when they finished fourth on the constructors’ standings.

Drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are now in their second season together, and they will both be aiming for the podium and good points haul in their “home” race.

“I’m excited and prepared to be entering my fourth season in Formula 1 with the team,” said Norris. “I’m looking forward to building on the progress we’ve made together over the years and I’m ready to hit the ground running. “I’m really looking forward to the close racing and exciting battles that the new regulations will bring. I’m not sure what the order will be but it’s going to be a close fight heading into the first qualifying session of the year and across the entire season. I can’t wait for the challenge ahead.”

Ricciardo, who missed all of the pre-season testings in Sakhir due to COVID-19 but has since recovered and will be racing this weekend, added: “I’m glad to be back, feeling better and ready for the Bahrain Grand Prix and season ahead. “I was disappointed to not be in the car last week but despite being unwell, I’ve been able to keep in touch with the team, chat to Lando about the car and prepare as best as I can for the race weekend. “I want to maximise the Free Practice sessions to better understand the car and fine-tune everything ready for qualifying and lights out on Sunday. It’s hard to know where we’ll be on the grid but it’s going to be competitive and I’m hungry to get back in the car and go racing.”

Support Series

F1 is set to be joined on track this race weekend by the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East. F2 and F3 are both holding their season-opening rounds in Bahrain, while the Porsche Sprint Challenge will be staging its 2021/2022 championship finale. All three support series will also take to the tarmac Friday for their opening sessions of the weekend. The Porsche Sprint Challenge will be the first out on track in the morning at 10.15 am for a 45-minute First Practice. The field will then be back in the evening for a Second Practice session starting at 8.20 pm. F3 gets their season underway with Practice at 11.25 am. The field will then be back on track for Qualifying at 4.25 pm. For F2, their Practice session is scheduled for a 12.35 pm start, to be followed later in the evening at 7.25 pm by Qualifying.