In Bahrain everything is ready for the first race weekend of the season. After a three-month wait, Formula 1 is ready to return with the calendar longest ever. And we, for the third year, will accompany you on this long, very long journey, telling you, in parallel with what happens on the track, about the season through the eyes of Fantamanager, with the Fanta F1 signed by YawClub. This year we decided to take it one step further with new game features and this makes us even more eager to start the new season. There's very little time left and then we'll find out who hid their cards during the tests and who didn't. The free practices will serve to give us further confirmation. But let's see on the basis of what emerged in the tests who the drivers can be fielded at Fanta F1 and what the predictions can be made with the first tips of the year.
What scenarios could we have in Bahrain?
It's always fun at this stage to make the first predictions of the season. The true values of the teams are not yet known and this makes the competition and all possible scenarios more exciting. Returning to the real world, Red Bull remains by all accounts the car to beat, but the scenario seems more similar to that of the last phase of last season, in which all the teams got closer. Ferrari brought to the track the first single-seater created under the total control of Vasseur who also had fun on the market during the winter break, managing to do what others have attempted to do, namely bring Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari. The SF-24 is the single-seater that most of all seems to be a candidate for the role of co-protagonist, as Aston Martin was last year, at least in the initial stages.
This year, Lawrence Stroll's team may not repeat last season's exploits, but it still commands special attention, especially in Bahrain, a track that suits the car well. And above all because of the "little boy" that he has in the team, namely Fernando Alonso. His value at Fanta F1 last year it skyrocketed after a series of podiums in the early stages of the championship which began to run out once the updates were brought to the track.
Ferrari and Mercedes fighting for second place?
The one who can take a risk for this start of the season is Mercedes. Everyone is wondering if the star's team will have made a mistake with the car for the third time in a row. But from the first findings, there seems to be no history with the previous cars. The W15 responds well to Russell, less so to Hamilton in his last year at Mercedes. The team started off on the wrong foot last year but quickly recovered.
This season will be particularly important but given Lewis' departure there is the need to demonstrate that the Englishman has not left Mercedes because he is sailing in murky waters. Hamilton himself has said that this car is far better than any other car he drove last season. And let's remember that the W14, at the end of the championship, came second in the constructors' championship.
At McLaren, as at Aston Martin, there is more uncertainty about the start of the season. Andrea Stella has dampened the enthusiasm collected in the final phase of last season, and therefore the impression is that in addition to Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes will once again be fighting for the podium.
The change of values mid-grid
And further back, what is the situation like? From the tests it seems that the ranking here could change a lot compared to last season. A team we advise you against betting on is Alpine. The French no longer know what to invent to avoid getting into trouble with the A524. Zero paint, air intakes all over the side. The tests were extremely disappointing. The risk of finding yourself empty-handed far from the top 10, or worse with a series of DNFs, is dangerously high.
However, the one who can surprise in a positive way is the RB Visa Cash App, which aims to permanently occupy the top 10, with the risk of even being able to compete for the podium in some races. It is still early perhaps for this, but the Ricciardo - Tsunoda couple is undoubtedly one of the most interesting at Fanta F1, given the good price. Finally let's talk about the fight for the last places in which we find Sauber, Williams and Haas. None of the three teams gave positive signals in Bahrain and potentially each of the drivers of this team could occupy the last position obtaining the +10 bonus.
Our top 5 at Fanta F1 for the weekend in Bahrain
The team we propose to start in Bahrain with a budget of 100 credits is a mixed one, with Charles Leclerc as captain.
Leclerc – Hamilton – Ricciardo – Hulkenberg – Sargeant
Forecasts
Let's look at the advice on the forecasts for Fanta F1 in Bahrain.
Safety Car: NO
Virtual Safety Car: YES
Red Flag: NO
Drivers distinguish between wet/full wet tires in the race: DO NOT
Team double in the race: DO NOT
Driver who starts on pole wins the race: DO NOT
Stables to bring both riders into the top 10: 4
Drivers forced to retire: 2
