I'll get to the race recap in a second, but can we all take this moment to enjoy Max Verstappen's amazing first lap last weekend in China? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBRhuhU5WHM



P16 to P7 in one lap. That's not from him getting the clutch just right at the start, either, he fought for every spot. Amazing.



Anyways...



We're headed home for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Britannia is opening its doors early for us, so we can enjoy our 99th GP viewing in the bar where it all started. Doors open at 7:45, and lights go out at 8:00, so be sure to get there on time to make sure you don't miss anything!



On to the recap!



Last week in China, Lewis Hamilton and his cohort of Mercedes-Benz engineers struck back. Lewis took pole by a scant 0.186 seconds.



The race started out with a damp track and every driver, save for one, opted to start on intermediate wet tires. The inters are designed to handle just such conditions where slicks would be too difficult, but a more aggressively-treaded full-wet tire would disintegrate from the forces of driving in only damp conditions.



While Max Verstappen was charging through the field on his aforementioned first lap, Lance Stroll pulled off in Turn 10 with a broken suspension. The immobile Williams brought on a virtual safety car (Wherein every car is slowed to a safe speed automatically by computer) on lap two. The track was drying. Sebastian Vettel saw an opportunity, and pitted from second place.



It was a gamble having his pit stop so early, not least because the track was still pretty wet for driving on slick tires. But with the cars circulating slowly, Vettel had a chance to get his pit stop done with a minimal disadvantage. The stop demoted the Ferrari pilot to sixth position, but when the track dried further, other drivers would have to change to slicks too - if that happened with the race at full speed, he could be perfectly poised take the lead.



Unfortunately for Sebastian, Antonio Giovinazzi crashed his Sauber in dramatic fashion shortly after the race resumed. The crash called for a full safety car, which bunched the field up and afforded the others an even better opportunity to change their tires.



When racing resumed, Sebastian Vettel remained in sixth, only now the five cars in front of him were on identical slick Pirelli tires.



Vettel put his head down and fought his way through the field for the remainder of the race - touching tires with Daniel Ricciardo in spectacular fashion in the process. Seb was unable to catch Lewis by the end, and finished the race in second position.



Behind him, Ricciardo and Verstappen battled it out for the remaining spot on the podium. Max won out, a monumental achievement considering he started dead last. With any luck, this will set the tone for the rest of the year and we will get to watch the Red Bull teammates battle it out in identical cars for the next 18 races.



Now we head to Bahrain. Sakhir hosts a night race, giving the cars and drivers a break from the brutal heat they've had to endure in the past but the dropping temperatures come with challenges of their own.



For one - practice sessions are held in the day. This means that the data collected in practice might not be applicable come Sunday. Teams who can predict how the dropping track and air temperatures will have an advantage here.



Bahrain also has a reputation for destroying tires. The track's abrasive surface and its stop/start layout put a lot of strain on rear tires. This should be a good test to find out who manages the wider tires this year.



We are two races in this season and have two different winners. Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz will be looking to take the lead in the World Championship this Sunday, and a resurgent Red Bull will be looking to make their presence known too.



Come on out to our live viewing in Santa Monica, and enjoy F1 with the best party around!