Everyone was excited for this year’s Grand Prix motor races, especially since people were closely watching the performances of Max Verstappen or Lando Norris. George Larris and McLaren have also been widely appreciated for their previous success. 

At the same time, the competition between Red Bull and Ferrari kept fans alert, as teams from both sides were doing their best. However, it wasn’t enough for people at home, as it seems like the opener dissatisfied many fans after watching the pre-season. Most were less excited about what was to come due to the same driver line-up and the endless Red Bull drama. 

But why was the season opener so disastrous compared to previous races? Let’s analyze some of the factors that made it as intriguing as it was. 

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-man-in-a-red-suit-walking-across-a-bridge-77N6dN4zM0c 

Red Bull dominated the race

Verstappen and Red Bull led the Bahrain Grand Prix, but many consider the race too easy for the player since he had fewer problems than others. Almost every other competitor has difficulties with their vehicles, from Hamilton’s Mercedes cooling problems to Leclerc’s brake issues. You can check out the F1 calendar for each player’s progress in the game, as well as challenges during matches. 

Overall, Red Bull provided many great drivers, such as Yuki Tsunoda, who showed his true skills in this season. The team leader praised his yearly progress as he is close to finishing a race with almost no mistakes while going on raw speed. 

Ferrari and Mercedes had some serious problems 

Although they weren’t far behind Red Bull teams, Ferrari and Mercedes could’ve done better at the beginning of the race. You can find a complete analysis of the game on Grandprixnews, but what basically happened is that Mercedes had no luck from the start because cooling problems compromised Lewis Hamilton. But that’s not all. Issues like higher-downforce rear wings or unpredictable swings were all bad omens for the players’ performance. 

On the other hand, Ferrari was close to challenging Red Bull, but due to lack of performance, Leclerc was disappointed by the team’s response. The team leader seems to have too good of an opinion about the vehicle’s representation, considering previous victories against Mercedes. Although Ferrari introduced updates to improve the rear wing, side pods, and floors, there wasn’t much of a difference compared to the previous season. 

Alpine performance was even more disappointing 

While the most prominent players in the competition had a few mismatches, Alpine had one of the poorest shows in the race, with Bruno Famin admitting the unacceptable outcome. Indeed, Bahrain pointed out the problems with the vehicle’s lack of traction. 

Famin also commented that new and exciting profiles will be coming to Alpine soon to bring more talent and youthfulness to the brand image. Still, until the team behind the vehicles doesn’t make them faster, lighter, and overall better, it might be difficult for the next season to put the spotlight on Alpine. 

Alpine’s previous structure was replaced as three more technical roles were introduced. They include performance, aerodynamics, and engineering, changing the singular Technical Director role and adding more functions and responsibilities. 

What did teams say about players’ performances? 

The McLaren side had its good and bad periods during the race. While Norris was satisfied with the car’s performance and considered the team back on track, Piastri saw himself as the problem, not the vehicle, for the little seatback at the second half of the race. 

Red Bull, on the other hand, was successful overall but was challenged by various factors. Verstappen’s car had floor damage, problems with tires, and so much more, which slowed him down. Perez also struggled considerably with the car getting too heated. 

Mercedes was also prone to ineffective car features, such as old tires and lack of speed. Hamilton was significantly vocal about the problems of the vehicles, while Russel was ready to move on and address the issues.

But let’s not forget about the other teams, from RB and Alpine to HAAS and Pirelli. Each struggled with various issues but ultimately proved that talent and skill are all that matter. 

What’s in store for the future races this year? 

Since January, we’ve been going from Saudi Arabia to Shanghai and Miami, but there’s still more to the 2024 Grand Prix. According to the racing calendar, we’re most excited about the following races:

Netherlands and Italy races in August;

Azerbaijan and Singapore in September;

The US and Mexico City in October;

Brazil, Las Vegas, and Qatar in November;

Abu Dhabi in December;

The most recent race in Hungary showcased an impressive result. Oscar Piestri led the headline, followed closely by Lando Norris. Hamilton took third place, with Leclerc and Verstappen following. 

How much are drivers rewarded with? 

F1 drivers are truly putting their lives in danger, as having an accident during the race is nothing new to the industry. Indeed, legends like Michael Schumacher have had great comebacks after dangerous accidents, but not everyone is that lucky. 

Therefore, F1 drivers are well rewarded for their efforts and contributions to the race. On top of their base salaries, their financial tips are linked with their finishing positions during the season. The contracts players are signing are also crucial for their incomes. Verstappen, for example, has a contract available until 2028, and the Red Bull team offers him about $55 million. Hamilton is closely following with $45 million from Mercedes, but it’s expected for the driver to receive almost double the sum due to bonuses. 

The constructors behind the players are also rewarded considerably for supporting and helping them throughout the competitions. Red Bull is the leader in the amount of money received, but it surely deserves it, considering its contributions to the sports world. 

What’s your take on the previous F1 season? 

F1 racing is one of the most appreciated sports in the world, as it challenges racers and is prone to numerous issues. This year’s first season was considered by many to be disappointing because teams seem to have not changed anything since previous sessions, with vehicles having fundamental issues that hindered players’ performance. 

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