The great technical revolution that the Formula 1 it's going through has led teams to embrace different design philosophies and this may have opened up the players table again. Who will have found the winning project? During the winter tests, no team showed its actual value. But although it is impossible to know the real performances, let's try to base ourselves on the potential that we have been able to perceive and to imagine the possible scenario that awaits us in the first round of the season in Bahrain.
During the hybrid era, Mercedes she always hid from tests. It should therefore not surprise us to see her, also this year, trudging in this phase. However, the cover work done at Barcelona, took precious time away from the team that was unable to remedy the problem of pouring dammed up by most of the teams in the time between stage a Barcelona and that in Bahrain. Furthermore, the W13 she struggles to find speed in the slow corners and generally feels a bit too nervous for this circuit.
Different, if not completely opposite, the type of approach and work carried out by Ferrari which seems to have given birth to the F1-75 under a lucky star. The car seems to adapt well to the layout of the circuit especially in the slow corners; it gave no problems during the tests but above all it did not express its true potential.
La Red Bull it hid until the end, bringing the most important updates only on the last day of testing. Furthermore, this gamble seems to have paid off Red Bull compared to the Ferrari and the Mercedes it was more exposed on the engine front.
The impression is therefore that of already seeing Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes very close on this first day even if the first two have a slight advantage.
But now we come to the most interesting part or the advice on who to buy and who to deploy for this first day!
Top Drivers
Max Verstappen
If you want to entrust your team to a top driver Max Verstappen starts as favourite. The Dutch driver could potentially fight for both pole and first position with a car that behaves as it should. Furthermore, the comparison with his teammate would be in favor of the Dutchman.
Charles Leclerc
Alternatively, the Monegasque at home Ferrari it can cost you a few MASI less, even if the gap with the teammate is less evident.
Given the high cost, we advise you to combine them with the pilots you will find in the category below.
Little but good
Alexander albon
La Williams he can have his say in the middle of the standings and Albon he still has a lot to give to this category, perhaps more than his teammate.
Kevin Magnussen
la Haas he wants to come out and nab some sponsors, so, he could be this weekend's outsider. While Kevin is the non plus ultra of the DNF we believe that this could be the right opportunity to get some satisfaction in the American team.
Lance stroll
We would have liked to advise you Sebastian Vettel, however, the German driver tested positive on Thursday COVID-19, therefore it will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg that, although he knows the single-seaters thanks to the simulator, he doesn't have the kilometers of Stroll and therefore could suffer in this first appointment in Bahrain.
Top but without spending too much:
Carlos Sainz
If you don't want to spend a lot on a Top Drivers but you want a bonus worthy captain Carlos Sainz he is the right man for you. No withdrawals in 2021; possible candidate for Sky rider of the day unless it's the teammate's turn; he could have a permanent place in the top 5 and fight for the podium. Furthermore, it is not so obvious to see him behind the Monegasque especially at the beginning of the season when everything is allowed.
Maybe still too early:
Lando Norris / Daniel Ricciardo
McLaren had quite a few problems in this testing phase and the problem with the front brakes, if not resolved in time, could continue and compromise Sunday's performance. Surely the foundations to work are there but there is doubt for this first race. Ricciardo, healed from Covid-19, will be present on the track but will start from a decided disadvantage, having missed the tests in Bahrain.
Last place bonus
Guanyu-Zhou
As a philosophy of life we have learned that all that glitters is not gold and even if the money brought by the Chinese pilot Guanyu-Zhou it's a lot we mustn't forget that being a rookie almost always brings disadvantages, even more when the team you compete for prepares to face a season starting as an underdog. However, there is a reason that could lead you to adopt a puppy Zhou in your team, or the last place, which, however ominous it may be, we have decided to reward with a + 10. Attention it is not about the last place in the final standings but about those who do not retire and cross the finish line last!
We just have to wait for the first responses that will arrive tomorrow with the free practice sessions. Good fun!