The opening press conference for 2024 consisted of Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Lewis Hamilton, and Carlos Sainz (among others). Naturally, the first conference after the winter break is full of questions about how the drivers feel the team has prepared in comparison to last year and, more than most this year, questions about the winter break. Norris claimed he was confident that they had improved from last year, feeling that the car is a much more successful challenger than 2023. However, he still feels unsure as to where McLaren stand in comparison to Aston Martin. Similarly, Albon explained he feels the positions across the teams have not changed much, stating "there is no P10 team" but that Red Bull are still safely ahead. Questions about the winter break were directed at none other than Hamilton and Sainz. Hamilton expressed that the news of his move has not put the team off, leaving them motivated, and focused to perfect the car across the season. Sainz, being hounded about his status next year, expressed he does not know where he'll end up in 2025, but that he has every intention of giving his all during 2024 for Maranello.
While some take pre-season testing as truth, Free Practice is usually a better indication of the car's ability, although still not as reliable as the Grand Prix. The first practice was the most unnatural as V-CARB saw themselves in P1 with Daniel Ricciardo followed by both McLaren's. Ricciardo drove 23 laps of the Bahrain circuit setting the fastest time of the session with 1:32:869. The first session had Mercedes fans worried, the P7 and P9 reflective of the positions they found themselves in during 2023. Trouble in paradise found its way into the Red Bull garage as reigning champion Max Verstappen reported "Everything is f***king miles off! The car is literally jumping" during FP1, being pulled into the garage to deal with downshifts and upshifts. The second practice session was much more reflective of Mercedes' former glory with a P1 and P2 finish both with times of 1:30s. FP3 was the most mixed session with no pattern within the rankings. Sainz took first, with Verstappen third and Hamilton twelfth.
As qualifying began, P20 and P19 were locked in with both Alpines. Logan Sargeant was the only Williams driver to not make it to Q2, securing P18. Q1 also saw the end of the brand new Stake F1 Kick Sauber, with both drivers taking P16 and P17, bringing the session to an end. Q2 solidified the places of the usual midfielders, Hulkenberg and Hamilton narrowly making Q3. Finally, Q3 reflected the 2023 season well, Verstappen naturally secured P1, putting him in a spot he knows well. Q3 also saw George Russell, future first driver of Mercedes, ahead of teammate Hamilton, securing P3. The first 57 laps of 2024 were, for the most part, quiet. Max took the lead firmly by Turn 1, coming home to win and begin defending his championship with a comfortable twenty-second lead. Russell firmly secured the top five as he gave a masterclass in his skill, fighting with Charles Leclerc. However, Bahrain was not perfect for the Mercedes team with significant reports of overheating from Russell: "We had massive engine overheating and the battery wasn't working properly... We had to turn the power down." and a broken seat for Lewis. While it seemed pretty civil across the grid, all was not pleasant for the RB team, with claims of immaturity coming from Ricciardo towards teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
With the first race of the season over, it leaves lots of room to predict how the rest of the 23 races across the calendar will turn out. After Red Bull secured a 1/2 finish this weekend, viewers everywhere are expressing their annoyance at another Red Bull-dominated season. It seems that Mercedes have begun leaving room for George to take the lead on securing P2 in the constructor's championship for them this year. Viewers can only hope that with the calendar being the longest it ever has been this year, there will be plenty of chances for other victories across the paddock.