Verstappen, Perez, Alonso. A podium like this can only tell us about the start of season definitely unexpected. No Ferrari on the podium, Aston Martin second strength, with Alonso intent on waving to Hamilton and Russell with his little hand. The bottom end of the rankings also speak eloquently. In Bahrainin fact, perhaps the only certainty is having seen both Red Bulls on the podium. But let's see what our tops and flops are at Fanta F1!
A scenario that is already clearly visible from the starting point of the 2023 single-seaters. The RB18 has taught many, primarily Red Bull itself, which has not changed its forms. The Austrian team started off with a false step last year, finding themselves race after race. One year later, the music is different in Bahrain. One of the sour notes is Ferrari, already grappling with a reliability problem. A more subdued start was expected compared to last year's deafening brace, but Leclerc's out has surprised everyone. To have to cope with a withdrawal over Ferrari there were also McLaren and Alpine. Two teams that fought over Oscar Piastri during the summer break, the first to retire.
The tops
Fernando Alonso: A true team leader, he only has eyes for Stroll, as well as for his father who hired him. We knew that he would be the joker this weekend and he did not disappoint. Podium in the first race, he can't fail to be the rider of the day. His Aston Martin amuses him, and it amuses us. He allows himself the luxury of risky overtaking, and he doesn't want to stop there. One wonders how far this Aston can go. We don't know but the beginning promises well. Especially for those who bet on him at Fanta F1.
Max Vertappen: As a tip Max and the RB19 are a guarantee. They are in ideal form, and with Ferrari grappling with problems they can aspire to occupy the first and second slots by default. Last season Ferrari monopolized the Poles with Leclerc. This year we are more likely to see Max in that position.
Pierre Gasly: After a complicated start – he started from the last pitch – Pierre began a series of overtakings that even brought him back into the points. He also had the fastest lap point in his hand, stolen by Zhou in the finale. Excellent debut with Alpine.
The Flops
Let's move on to the sore points instead. The first, most disappointing, is one of last season's protégés at Fanta F1, who today took all sorts of possible and imaginable penalties.
Stephen Ocon: For an Alpine in the top there is one in the flops. -22 points, and no, it's not a doubled score as if Ocon were our team captain. Probably no one has ever done worse than this at Fanta. The many penalties added up to the inevitable retirement. A cold shower for the Alpine which saw Gasly climb instead of positions.
Charles Leclerc: The podium vanished with a dull blow from the SF-23 that left Charles on his feet. Ferrari, sadly has yet to come to terms with reliability. This time it was Charles who paid for it, and the Fantamanagers who had deployed him.
McLaren: Can it be considered a victory to finish last and take the +10 bonus with Lando Norris? definitely no. McLaren is the big absentee in midfield, further back than Haas and Williams. At the moment he is a candidate as the last force. To get a clearer picture, however, we should also evaluate the performance on the next tracks, but at the moment it is not at all convenient to bet on the Papaya team. Retirement and last place. Can you do worse than that?
