Ferrari began the 2022 Formula 1 season on the highest note possible at Bahrain International Circuit. What does this say about their championship prospects?
Ferrari entered the 2022 Formula 1 season-opening race weekend at Bahrain International Circuit looking like the favorites following preseason testing at the track, but many were cautiously optimistic.
The Prancing Horse had appeared to be the top team heading into a number of recent seasons, only for Mercedes to end up coasting to another world championship.
Mercedes entered the 2022 season as eight-time reigning world champions, but they struggled in testing. Of course, their struggles were downplayed by their opponents, who referenced past years when they supposedly “struggled”, only to turn things around and, again, win another world title in dominant fashion.
But this year, it looked like things might be different. And in the season opener, they were.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took the pole position for the 57-lap Bahrain Grand Prix around the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain, and he went on to win the race. The only two laps he didn’t lead were led by teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. during pit stops.
Sainz ended up in second place after Red Bull’s late double retirement, giving Ferrari their first 1-2 finish since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Mercedes, which had run fifth and sixth with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell throughout much of the race, finished in a surprising third and fourth with Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez dropping out of contention in the closing laps.
But what does this start to the season say about Ferrari’s world championship prospects?
On seven occasions, they have taken the pole position and won the season opener. Every time they have done so in the past, they have gone on to win the world championship.
It happened most recently in 2007.
Ferrari haven’t won a constructor title since 2008, and they haven’t had a driver win the world championship since 2007. In 2007, Kimi Raikkonen took the pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, and he went on to win both the race and the world title.
Race two of 23 on the 2022 schedule is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and it is scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 27. The race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN from Jeddah Corniche Circuit beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. If you have not yet started a free trial of FuboTV, do so now!