And the day came when even Formula 1 drivers said enough, took pen and paper, and even forcefully expressed their independent and complex thoughts. It's a kind of miracle what happened on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, when the drivers' association, the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), published a strong statement on its website and across all social media platforms (official ones and those of individual drivers) regarding the F1 governance. They stated that it urgently needs to change. The trigger for the drivers was the scandalous incident involving the new qualifying format. Enforced by Bernie Ecclestone at the various teams (unanimously approved by them), then withdrawn, re-proposed, and finally introduced in Melbourne despite, in Ecclestone's words, the stopwatch being old, with disastrous results.
"The new qualifying is shit".
That was Sebastian Vettel's final assessment. Later, on global television, he even rebuked Hamilton, who was trying to be diplomatic during the FIA press conference:
"It's useless to beat around the bush. There are responsibilities, and we need to bring them out".
It was Vettel, whose transformation from a prodigy to a mature man - if not a leader - can be considered complete, one of the promoters of the GPDA initiative (along with Jenson Button and Alex Wurz).
"It is crucial that the governance of our sport makes intelligent and well-considered decisions. The new regulatory changes, introduced even considering marketing arguments, have instead caused more harm than good to F1. In some cases, they even jeopardize its very future. We know that everyone operates with good intentions; however, we believe that the decision-making processes in our sport are poorly structured, outdated, and hinder the resolution of real problems".
Up to this point, the criticism, then the proposals:
"We urgently request a reform of the governing bodies. Decisions should be made within a specific development plan that reflects the values and principles of this sport".
The letter concludes with some kind of reassurance to the leaders of the sport (Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt above all) and the explanation of the reason behind this intervention.
"Us drivers want Formula 1 to remain a sport. A battle between the best drivers, driving extraordinary vehicles, on the most beautiful tracks in the world".
The fact that there is a need to express the hope that F1 remains a sport is in itself somewhat disturbing. It's also unsettling that, despite the Melbourne flop and the unanimous decision to revert, it hasn't been officially decided which qualifying format will be used for the Bahrain pole. It seems that, in the end, a hybrid solution between the old and the new will be found. Meanwhile, Ferrari is truly threatening Mercedes. And if saying so is the reigning World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, the fans of the Maranello team can hope for a high-level season. As the second Grand Prix of the F1 World Championship approaches in Bahrain, the Mercedes driver is convinced that he needs to watch out not only for his teammate Rosberg but also for the two Ferraris of Vettel and Raikkonen.
"I'm excited at the thought of having more races like Melbourne. There will be other weekends where we will be a few seconds ahead of Ferrari, races where we will be side by side, and races where they could be in front. When it will happen, we won't know, and that's exciting. I have good feelings; I was ahead of everyone throughout the weekend until the race started. So, I'm confident heading into Bahrain, where I've won in the last two seasons. Repeating the same result would be great".
Hamilton then comments on the introduced rule changes, including the much-discussed elimination-style qualifying:
"There has been a lot of talk about rules, and I think that drivers should be more involved in the decision-making process. It's not up to us to come up with ideas, but we have our opinions. Personally, I think we need more mechanical grip and less wake coming out of the rear of the cars so that we can get closer and overtake. It doesn't make sense to give us a five-second penalty per lap. We just need to drive faster. I speak as someone who loves this sport and loves racing, but I know that the changes that have been introduced will not give us better races".
Even the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, is in favor of shelving the experience of elimination qualifying:
"We haven't found the right format, and with these changes, it's difficult to imagine how qualifying can be more appealing to the audience watching the Bahrain Grand Prix. This matter is under examination; careful reflection is needed to make progress from the current situation. Fans want closer races with an understandable format featuring stronger drivers and cars. We must be able to give all this to the audience in the stands and those watching from home".
Despite the failure in the Australian Grand Prix, however, the new qualifying format will be replicated this weekend at the Sakhir circuit.
"But does your mechanic suffer from rheumatisms?"
It seemed like a joke, the one uttered, not exactly in a relaxed manner, by a Mercedes manager towards the Ferrari box after the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago. Instead, it was a declaration of war. The war of the boards. The facts. The FIA has banned strategic radio communications between the pit wall and the driver this year. And so the teams have resorted, as much as possible, to the beloved old boards. In Melbourne, however, it happened that, in the pit lane, Vettel's signaling point, who had immediately taken the lead, was a few meters ahead of Rosberg's, who was following closely. And so for the Ferrari mechanic (who could display his sign first), it was child's play to make Rosberg spin blindly; all he had to do every lap was retract the sign very calmly. Legitimate but a bit unfair. Mercedes filed a complaint.
"From Bahrain onwards, we don't want Italians around".
They told the FOM (which decides the arrangement of the boxes, motorhomes, and signaling points). And we're only at the second race of the season.
"Last year in Bahrain was not one of our best races. Now we are more competitive; we can say we are closer to Mercedes".
Sebastian Vettel, ahead of the second round of the World Championship at the Sakhir circuit, throws down the gauntlet to Rosberg and Hamilton.
"We are working hard, but now it's difficult to make predictions: we have different tires, and the weather is very different".
The new qualifying format for pole position will also be in Bahrain, despite not being liked by anyone. Vettel expresses his discontent with a significant metaphor:
"If someone sells vanilla ice cream, and everyone who comes to the store asks for chocolate ice cream, the next day when it opens, it should sell chocolate ice cream. Instead, it decided to sell vanilla ice cream again. Usually, you should do what customers ask for, but if someone does the exact opposite, I don't think they are doing a good job".
So, a solution is being sought:
"Us drivers have not put forward proposals; we have only tried to clarify what was wrong and what needs to change. We are not here to make the rules, but I think for some decisions, it would be useful to listen to drivers and fans more because, in the end, we must do what is best for the sport. We just need to find the best system".
Kimi Raikkonen, who wants to forget the weekend in Australia, forced to retire in Melbourne and in pursuit of the first points of the season, says:
"It's hard to predict how the weekend will go; the outcome depends on many factors. We will have to do our best in practice and try to bring home the best result".
On the Ferrari website, Raikkonen also emphasizes the positive aspects of the last race:
"In Australia, we had a good start; we hope it continues that way, but it's not easy to succeed every time. There are many things that can affect the start. The race was not going badly, but then we had a problem. We need to try to do better, solve the problems we have, and try to avoid new ones. Hopefully, a good weekend will come out".
With the last races of 2015 and the first of the new season in Australia, Nico Rosberg arrives in Bahrain with four consecutive victories. However, the German driver remains cautious:
"It has certainly been a great start, but we have only won one race out of twenty-one. I am still very satisfied with the car and the excellent work done by the team to give us this car under these conditions. We know that the fight with Ferrari will be very tight".
Mercedes is working to solve the starting problems that allowed Vettel and Raikkonen to overtake him and Hamilton:
"We are working on it. The difficulty is great, and we can only say that we are working on it a lot".
Referring to the open letter that the GPDA sent to the FIA and FOM to ask for more involvement in decisions to make Formula 1 more appealing, Rosberg adds:
"We wonder if the FIA could modify the commission system to make everything more interesting. For example, the new qualifying system that we do not like. This is important for us, for the fans; it is certainly the most obvious example. Or next year with downforce management: whether this will make overtaking easier or more difficult because we have to facilitate overtaking and not make it more difficult".
On the eve of the Bahrain Grand Prix, they deem Fernando Alonso unfit, coming off the terrible accident two weeks ago in Australia. It is stated in the Federation's release:
"The comparison of chest CT scans has shown insufficient improvements to allow the race to be contested safely. Another CT scan is required before the next Chinese Grand Prix (April 17, editor's note), and the results will be analyzed before allowing Fernando Alonso to race there".
Fernando Alonso says:
"It is normal for me to feel disappointment and frustration. I wanted to race, but I understand the decision. I gave it my all; I hoped to be able to race. It has been difficult days; I felt pain, but I thought I could be on the track and, with the adrenaline of the race, endure the pain. This decision is logical, and there is no other solution".
The Spaniard does not commit to his presence in China in two weeks:
"I am not 100% sure I can race; we will have to do more tests, and the FIA will evaluate".
Instead of Alonso, defending the colors of McLaren in the Bahrain Grand Prix will be the Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne, in his third season as test driver for the team. Vandoorne, who competed in the last two GP2 championships with ART, will make his Formula 1 debut alongside Jenson Button. He remains a lucky individual and certainly cannot curse fate. Because when you have an accident at 310 km/h, when you fly off the track and crash into the barriers at almost 200 km/h, few can recount the sensations experienced in those terrible moments. Alonso must still smile, but he is not a superhuman and cannot race in Bahrain. To stop him, and it's the second time in twelve months, are the FIA doctors who have not cleared him, as a new incident could have devastating consequences for his health. They put it in writing:
"Two series of chest CT scans were compared, and it was decided that there is insufficient resolution of the issues to allow him to compete safely".
It means: there is a broken rib not yet healed (Alonso even talks about more than one in front of the cameras), and a new impact could result in a punctured lung, which already happened in Melbourne, with the Spaniard suffering a pneumothorax, which he claims to have almost completely absorbed. Alonso needs to sit out, and McLaren, perhaps taken aback, has no choice but to comply, with the hasty summoning of the Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne, who had not been alerted in advance and had to fly in from Japan. His debut in F1 will be truly unique; he arrives in Bahrain at 8:30 a.m., and five hours later, he has to get into the car. But there was no other option; the medical examination, lasting an hour and a half, that Alonso underwent left no room for doubt.
Moreover, the FIA wants to follow the course of events with great attention and will repeat the thorough examination in ten days before giving the green light for his return to the track in China. The same driver hints at the possibility of a longer break:
"It's too early to make predictions, but safety comes first, the decisions of the doctors make me suffer, but they are logical; I might have to sit out even in Shanghai".
The problem is related to a possible relapse, as happened twelve months ago when the Spaniard had to postpone his debut with McLaren after the terrible accident on February 22 in the winter tests in Barcelona. Much has been said about that crash; many details about the causes remain mysterious (the hypothesis of a shock that would have caused Alonso to lose consciousness has never been completely ruled out), but the fact remains that there was a head trauma, and doctors advised against racing. On the track, before the split from the team (he is now with Renault), Magnussen took his place. Now, the fear is again the impact after the impact, in a gray period of the Spaniard's career, with McLaren remaining anonymous, and his accidents becoming more frequent. When he was with Ferrari, starting at Spa, he remembers Grosjean passing over his head, and there wasn't even a scratch for the Spaniard. Now, however, he can only express frustration after speaking only of a knee problem in Australia.
"But then, when I got home, I started experiencing rib pain. A CT scan showed a fracture and a pneumothorax. I did everything not to miss this race; I thought that with the adrenaline, I could endure the pain, but there is a risk of causing harm to vital organs. I can't wait to come back, and that's why I'll stay in Bahrain, in contact with the team. The team has given me freedom, but I want to participate in technical meetings and help Vandoorne".
At least his head has been spared.
"And if I had had the Halo, I would have avoided even this concern".
As for McLaren, it can be considered calm in the FIA investigation into the conditions of the seat. The team clarifies:
"It was not broken but cracked. It means it flexed and did its job".
On Friday, April 1, 2016, Mercedes dominated the first free practice session. Nico Rosberg led Lewis Hamilton by 0.5 seconds, achieving a faster time than the 2015 pole position, despite the track still being dirty from sand brought in by the wind. Kimi Räikkönen, in third place, finished the first practice session with a gap of over 1.8 seconds. In the second session, the Anglo-German team also claimed the top two spots: Rosberg, using Supersoft tires, posted a time just under a second slower than the track record set by Pedro de la Rosa in 2005. Lewis Hamilton, in second place, was a few tenths of a second behind. The German cars showed great competitiveness with Soft tires but experienced greater performance degradation with the use of Medium tires. Jenson Button, driving for McLaren, secured the third position, ahead of Max Verstappen. The two Ferraris followed, but Sebastian Vettel did not complete the session due to a technical failure, forcing him to abandon the car on the track. Romain Grosjean (Haas) also faced issues, returning to the pits due to an engine malfunction. At the end of the second free practice session, the stewards penalized Renault's Danish driver, Kevin Magnussen, for not stopping at the weighbridge, disregarding the red light instructing him to stop. Magnussen will be forced to start the race from the pit lane. Regarding the future of the Monza circuit, Bernie Ecclestone spoke after the sessions, expressing uncertainty about the inclusion of the Italian Grand Prix in the calendar for the first weekend of September 2017.
"There will be another meeting in a couple of weeks to discuss the future of Monza, so we still have to wait. Can I imagine an F1 future without the Italian Grand Prix? It's strange because I could never have imagined it without a Grand Prix in France at the beginning, but we managed it".
He also commented on the new qualifying format, saying:
"We'll wait and see. It was never my idea, but the FIA's. The drivers' letter? They don't have the right to participate in the changes, but they have an opinion, and that's fine; everyone can have one".
The fight has not been there so far. The Mercedes have been uncatchable, especially Rosberg, always ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen and Vettel, despite this being a friendly circuit for Ferrari: they won here four times, and above all it is the track that has to prove that the comeback against the Anglo-German cars is finally complete. The fiery duel was not to be seen: other were the unusual things, such as the low temperature of 20 °C, not to mention the pouring rain in the desert on Thursday, not Ferrari. Vettel, however, eleventh on the hardest tyres in the first session, sixth in the second, with the right tyres for a fast time and the car sadly parked and even more sadly brought back to the pits by crane, stays positive:
"No worries, optimism".
These were his slogans, aimed at maintaining team morale and fan enthusiasm.
"I've lost traction".
Vettel shouted via radio 15 minutes before the end of the second practice.
"If that's the case, stop, park, let's not take any risks".
The team responded from the pits, understanding immediately that it couldn't be a gearbox or suspension issue, but rather a problem with the left rear wheel not receiving the proper push. The possibility of it being a poorly tightened nut was ruled out by Ferrari, as Vettel remained on the track for five laps before stopping. This could have led to serious trouble, as the FIA might have investigated an unsafe track exit, potentially resulting in a penalty. After thorough investigations, Ferrari attributed the incident to one of three reasons: a convergence tie rod (affecting the suspension marginally), the hub it is attached to, or a defective nut that had loosened along the way but resulted appropriate for installation (no sanctions), but not for stress. Regardless of the origin, it wasn't a serious issue, and the mechanics could comfortably replace everything before the third free practice session. The real concern, looking ahead to qualifying (eager to see if the new format would turn into a farce again, as in Melbourne), was the inability to challenge Mercedes on the fast lap, even though Vettel expressed confidence.
"Front row impossible? Not necessarily".
Traffic and a few driving errors have widened the gap, but Ferrari’s thought is to not be 0.5 seconds behind Rosberg, neither with the German nor with Raikkonen (third and then fifth), forced to change, between damage and precaution, without sporting consequences, the power unit in Melbourne. The Finnish driver remarks caustically:
"Good to have accumulated laps".
With what quality we will discover in the third and final practice session. Meanwhile, as usual, Bernie Ecclestone doesn't mince words: the Formula 1 boss did not appreciate the letter in which the GPDA expressed itself against the new rules, especially the one regarding the qualifying format. Among the protesting drivers is also Sebastian Vettel, who believes that the current state of the Circus resembles an ice cream vendor asked for chocolate that continues to sell only vanilla ice cream. Bernie Ecclestone's response is peculiar:
"Vettel is probably right, but do you think he will win this race? He should talk to his boss and tell him the same things. They, for the past couple of years, have been running an ice cream shop".
Ecclestone, who has repeatedly accused Mercedes and Ferrari of blocking reforms, firmly says no when asked if drivers should be represented in the committee that regulates Formula 1:
"They can say what they want, but they can't do anything. They have an opinion like everyone else, but they have to discuss it with the teams, which have a say. They only say what the teams have told them to say. Are they just talkers? Some of them...".
On Saturday, April 3, 2016: The Saturday session overturns the rankings, with the two Ferraris leading the two Mercedes, who dominated the previous day's sessions. Sebastian Vettel sets the fastest time, edging out Kimi Räikkönen by only 0.04 seconds. However, the session is less indicative compared to the qualifiers, as it takes place during the day and not at night. Felipe Massa finishes in fifth place, testing the ultra-short nose on his Williams. A few hours later, in Q1, the fastest time was again set by a Mercedes driver: Nico Rosberg, who precedes Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo. The first eliminated is Felipe Nasr, followed by Rio Haryanto, the Renault duo (with Kevin Magnussen participating in the session, although already excluded from the starting grid), Sergio Pérez, Marcus Ericsson, and Pascal Wehrlein. In the second phase, Ferrari and Mercedes drivers try to set a competitive time to avoid elimination. Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time, followed by Vettel and Rosberg. The first of the eliminated is Daniil Kvyat: not making it to the final phase are also the two Toro Rossos, the two Haas cars, and the two McLarens. In the final phase, Nico Rosberg tops the time sheet, followed by the two Ferraris. Lewis Hamilton is only fourth, penalized by a driving error in the last corner. While the other four drivers attempt only one lap, Ferrari and Mercedes drivers return to the track. In the final phase, Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time and takes pole position. The British driver also sets the lap record, previously held by Pedro de la Rosa, achieved in the 2005 edition.
"Not everything went smoothly this weekend; we had some trouble running fast consistently. Fortunately, the last lap was really good, certainly the best of this whole weekend. I have to thank all the technicians on my team for the great work on the car. The car was excellent and allowed me to achieve this great lap time".
Lewis Hamilton's words are followed by those of Sebastian Vettel, who says:
"The pace is more or less there, but I hoped to be closer; half a second is a bit more than I expected, but I am very satisfied with the car. My Ferrari has been improving constantly this weekend, and there is no part of the track where we are not doing well. We will see tomorrow in the race, we will push to the maximum. Hopefully, we can repeat the start of Australia where I overtook the Mercedes, and then in the race, many things can happen".
A pole colored in yellow. Like the warning received by Hamilton, for reversing a section of the pit lane after his super lap.
A warning, the verdict issued by the stewards, resolute in finding him guilty (a driver should never engage reverse, it can endanger people and things, the regulations do not allow it), but also in granting him mitigating circumstances because he had not been given precise instructions on where to park his Mercedes at the end of qualifying. Hamilton has to tow the car to parc fermé, where it cannot be touched until the race; someone signaled to him that he could reverse, he trusted and risked making a glaring mistake that could have nullified his exploit, the well timed strike that came after a weekend spent chasing Rosberg, beaten in the crucial moment by 0.077 seconds. The excellent performance remains in the statistics, but doubts remain about the leniency shown to him (Ferrari, beaten on the track and forced to start from the second row, with Vettel in third and Raikkonen in fourth, has not commented on the incident), although the FIA is quick to clarify that there is no double standard when comparing Hamilton's case with the punishment given to Renault and Magnussen, guilty of not stopping at the weighbridge after the end of Friday's second practice and forced to start the race from the pit lane. For the judges, the incidents have completely different gravity: Hamilton, not well-informed, committed an indiscretion. Magnussen is as if he had forced a roadblock and deserves an exemplary penalty. The Briton can breathe a sigh of relief, but for an hour, the duration of the stewards' meeting, he trembled. Hamilton mocked Rosberg by a trifle, and the rival could only accept it:
"He did a superb lap, so did I, his was more fantastic. But the battle is not over; the start, the strategy, everything can still change".
This is what Vettel hopes for, disappointed by the considerable gap, more than 0.5 seconds.
"I was convinced we could be fast".
But still optimistic.
"Because the Ferrari is perfect in every part of the track, and with a start like in Australia, you can win".
The first corner is crucial, even though Raikkonen warns:
"The repeat is possible, but not guaranteed".
As he believes, what is certain is that extra something that Mercedes pulls out when needed, a magical button that fuels suspicions in the paddock and allowed the Germans to ease the pressure that Ferrari was putting on them (Hamilton ended up on the gravel in the penultimate attempt). On Sunday, April 3, 2016, two drivers were forced to retire from the Bahrain Grand Prix during the formation lap: Sebastian Vettel had to stop along the track with smoke coming from the engine, while Jolyon Palmer returned directly to the pits at the end of the lap. At the start, Nico Rosberg took the lead, while Lewis Hamilton made contact with Valtteri Bottas's Williams and had to give up some positions, as did Kimi Räikkönen. At the end of the first lap, the Mercedes driver led the pack, followed by the two Williams drivers, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, followed by Daniel Ricciardo, Kimi Räikkönen, Romain Grosjean, Lewis Hamilton, and Esteban Gutiérrez. During the fourth lap, Hamilton passed Grosjean, and on the fifth lap, Räikkönen passed Ricciardo. In the seventh lap, the Australian made the first pit stop, while Räikkönen also overtook Bottas. The two Williams drivers made their first pit stop between the eighth and ninth laps. In the tenth lap, Bottas served a drive-through penalty for the contact with Hamilton. Between the twelfth and fourteenth lap, Grosjean, Räikkönen, and the two Mercedes drivers also made their pit stops. The standings were still led by Nico Rosberg, followed by Kimi Räikkönen, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, and Romain Grosjean. During the seventeenth lap, Lewis Hamilton passed Daniel Ricciardo, while Romain Grosjean overtook Felipe Massa, who was also passed by Max Verstappen in the twentieth lap.
In the twenty-fourth lap, Grosjean continued his climb, managing to pass Daniel Ricciardo. Then, in the twenty-seventh lap, Verstappen made his pit stop, and Grosjean followed suit during the twenty-eighth lap, returning to the track in eighth place. In the twenty-ninth lap, Grosjean and Verstappen passed Bottas again, placing themselves in seventh and eighth positions. Around lap 30, the top three drivers made another pit stop: the ranking, however, remained unchanged, with Kimi Räikkönen in second, between the two Mercedes. Fourth was Daniel Ricciardo, followed by his teammate Daniil Kvyat, then Romain Grosjean, Max Verstappen, and Valtteri Bottas. In the following laps, the Red Bull Racing driver gave up his position first to Romain Grosjean, then to Max Verstappen. In the 38th lap, Kimi Räikkönen made his third pit stop, followed, two laps later, by Nico Rosberg. The gap between the two drivers stabilized at around 5 seconds. In the 42nd lap, Lewis Hamilton also made his final tire change, and in the 43rd lap, Max Verstappen passed Daniel Ricciardo to take third place. Romain Grosjean, after making the pit stop in the 41st lap, dropped back to eighth place but quickly returned to fifth place, passing Kvyat, Massa, and taking advantage of Verstappen's pit stop. In the final laps, Daniil Kvyat overtook Valtteri Bottas and climbed to eighth place, while Max Verstappen passed Felipe Massa and rose to sixth place.
On the penultimate lap, Felipe Massa relinquished his position to Daniil Kvyat. Nico Rosberg won the Bahrain Grand Prix, securing his fifth consecutive victory (the last three races of the 2015 season and the first two of the 2016 season). Kimi Räikkönen finished the race in second place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Stoffel Vandoorne, in his debut, secured a point with a tenth-place finish. Vandoorne is also the first Belgian driver to score points since the 1992 Australian Grand Prix (Thierry Boutsen at that time). Applause for Grosjean: fifth with the phenomenal Haas. Sixth place for Max Verstappen with Toro Rosso, seventh for the Russian Daniil Kvyat with Red Bull, eighth for Felipe Massa with Williams, ninth for Valtteri Bottas with the other Williams, and tenth - more applause - for the young debutant Stoffel Vandoorne. And Sebastian Vettel? Disaster: his Ferrari didn't even start due to an engine failure during the reconnaissance lap. White smoke and parking on the grass before the start, something that hadn't happened in twenty years. However, the German has nothing to complain about, unlike Lewis Hamilton, who, despite the collision (his car lost several parts...), still managed to reach the finish line. However, it's a tough moment for him because Nico Rosberg has won five times in a row, the second in this World Championship. While this year the season is endless (there are still nineteen races to go), the German is starting to put real pressure on the Englishman, more than the standings show because in the World Championship, Rosberg has a perfect score (50), followed by Hamilton with 33 points. Ferrari comes out battered from the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite Raikkonen's second place.
"What happened? Not many sensations, there was a failure, I saw that there was a lot of smoke, I lost power, so we decided to return to the pits".
Sebastian Vettel explains what happened before the Bahrain Grand Prix:
"What am I feeling? I didn’t even break a sweat, I didn't even start, it's certainly frustrating not being able to race. But I hope the engine is still okay, that would be the most important thing, and we will restart".
Two retirements in two races for Ferrari.
"Reliability can be a problem? Obviously, it's not an ideal, but we are pushing, we know we can still improve. Certainly, today is not good news, but we have to wait and see to understand if something happened to the engine or if there is something else. But that's life sometimes. It's frustrating, but what can you do?"
Kimi Raikkonen, on the other hand, managed to climb to the second step of the podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix:
"I had a bad start, but then we did well, although not well enough to win. I'll take this nice result, but it's unfortunate for the team that the other car had to retire".
Dreams up in smoke. Vettel believed in the feat, but everything evaporated before it even began. A choreographic cloud behind his car, reminiscent of the good old times when we only talked about engines and not power units. The German, during the formation lap, loses power, gets nervous, screams on the radio that something is wrong. The response from the pits is disarming, you're losing oil, park it, the race is over. Game over. Without a battle. Without being able to counter that demon Rosberg, the illustrious intruder in the duel between Hamilton and Vettel, the unexpected driver who has now achieved five consecutive victories, combining the last three of the previous season and the first two of this season. It's the result of undeniable talent, a Mercedes that continues to be a rocketship, and a burning desire to clinch his first world title. Rosberg enchants, Vettel laments:
"I didn't feel any warning signs. The failure was sudden; I saw a lot of smoke, lost power, so we decided to return to the pits. I didn't even break a sweat. It's frustrating to give up this way. Is reliability becoming a problem? I don't know, I hope not. We are pushing, and we know we can improve a lot. This retirement is not good news; it will weigh in the standings, but it's life, and you have to accept it. Even though it's hard to swallow the disappointment".
Especially difficult is realizing that he is already 35 points behind Rosberg (and 18 behind Hamilton) after only two races. Even Arrivabene, the team principal, can't hide his anger.
"I would say that Vettel could have fought for it, that if he hadn't broken the engine, we would have had fun. But races are not won with 'ifs'; they are won when you have no problems".
Arrivabene is ready to praise Raikkonen's second place:
"He positioned himself between the two Mercedes, had an exceptional race, and even he,perhaps with a different start, could have fought for the victory".
But Vettel's retirement heavily influences the analysis.
"The engines must not break; Ferrari can't afford it".
The cause is still unknown; for sure, the control unit or any electrical part is ruled out. The precise diagnosis will only be available when the engine is dismantled in Maranello. Currently, there's talk of a possible problem with an injector, while initially, a valve was suspected. Whatever it is, it has dampened Vettel's ambitions, who is now in a position, for championship aspirations, to make no more mistakes. This is a problem they didn't need, and not even his printed smile can hide the storm. So much so that, visibly upset, he walks away as soon as the race is over. Raikkonen's spirit is different, but he doesn't refrain from expressing his maxims. When told that he hadn't finished second in a long time, he says:
"It's nice, but it's not like winning. You're still a loser".
And about Ferrari's championship chances, he replies:
"We can believe it, but we have to improve a lot. Here we didn't have the speed to beat Rosberg".
Not even, according to him, with a better start, although he admits:
"I made a mistake at the start. I should have been faster, but I found myself behind Ricciardo, Bottas, and Massa. To overtake them, I lost precious time".
The famous regret of Arrivabene, similar to Hamilton's grievances, once again, a slow start and then being bumped by the culprit Bottas, damaging the right side of his car.
"With a car like this, I couldn't keep up with Rosberg's pace. For him, it was like drinking a glass of water".
While Nico Rosberg says:
"I had everything under control. We were just managing the race, trying to reduce risks and bring home the result. However, Kimi showed a good race pace. We know that Ferrari is really close, and we have to keep pushing. They haven't shown what they are capable of yet. They've had many setbacks, so we haven't seen the real Ferrari yet. We have to be careful; they are improving a lot. I'm not thinking about the season. I'm taking it step by step. Right now, I'm just having fun. I'm very fortunate because I have the privilege of driving this car and fighting for victory. I know I'll have the opportunity to race for the win in China as well, so what I feel is a beautiful sensation. What we're doing is really impressive, as is celebrating with the team and getting all those points. It's nice to start the season this way, but I don't want to look too far ahead. I'm experiencing things day by day".
Perhaps paying more attention to the helmet that, in the post race euphoria, he risked losing, in his Lombard accent, he asked Bonciani, the communication chief:
"Where did it go?"
Found. But he wouldn't have made a drama out of it. As radiant as he is, the important thing for him is not to lose the path to victory. The Mercedes team principal , Toto Wolff, congratulates the German driver:
"First of all, my congratulations to Nico. Right now, he's in a state of grace, coming from five consecutive victories, and today he made no mistakes. A clean start, a first turn without problems, and then a race during which he was able to control and be fast without taking risks when he needed".
Then, talking about Lewis Hamilton, he says:
"Once again, he showed the fighting spirit that characterizes him, and that we all know, to get back on the podium. Certainly, he wasn't the protagonist of a great start, but we've seen how the new rules are affecting many drivers in this regard and triggering many variables during starts. After that, he was touched by Bottas with a somewhat optimistic move, which damaged the car quite severely at the front and in the bottom area. A fact that largely influenced the overall performance. From that moment on, he had to limit the damage, trying to gain positions despite the damaged car. Lewis did a great job, but it was clear that he didn't have the pace to catch Raikkonen, so we played it safe, trying to bring home the result".
And he concludes:
"We've had two races out of twenty-one, so the season is very long, but as a team, we're happy to have had a good start to the season and the way we're taking advantage of all the opportunities that arise. However, it's clear that today we would have seen a different race if Sebastian hadn't been forced to retire before the start. So we have to keep our feet on the ground and keep pushing for the next race in China".
On his part, Lewis Hamilton talks about what happened at the start:
"I need to review my performance, but I believe it was my fault, no technical issues. These things happen; we'll try to improve. The incident at the first corner was a racing accident. We managed to minimize the damage. Congratulations to Nico; I think it was a race that was too easy for him. I could have scored more points, but I also could have not finished the race, so it's okay".
He adds:
"The team was hoping for a Safety Car or something similar, but I had damage to the car, and I couldn't keep up with his pace at all. With the car in that condition, I couldn't do more; the rear was going everywhere, especially struggling with the Mediums. I fought, did what I could, but in the end, I just tried to save the tires in case there was a safety car, but it didn't come".
Finally, there is a thank you to the Bahrain fans:
"Thanks a lot to all the fans; I tried to enjoy all the celebrations and was treated great. Thanks a lot to the prince and everyone who came to see us".
The line between gamble and risk is thin. The great dilemma is choosing: if you want to win, especially when starting from a lower level and need to overcome Mercedes' technical advantage, you can't be cautious. You have to push everything to the extreme in the name of performance. But if you do, you risk compromising reliability. You might be faster but less indestructible, maybe even fragile. This is happening to Ferrari, which has shown to be close to Mercedes in the first two Grand Prix, can fight for individual victories and perhaps even for the World Championship. However, they already had to park two cars out of four, Raikkonen due to the ECU failure in Melbourne, Vettel due to an engine failure even before the Bahrain race started. A worrying average of 50%, which doesn't encourage dreams of championships but is a result of a precise mandate from the top, from Marchionne, who insists on Ferrari winning the World Championship after nine years, demanding victory and a swift return to the top. The president didn't hesitate to put pressure on the team, expecting pole and victory in Australia, wanting glory in Bahrain, and now expecting it in China.
He told his men to push, and Arrivabene, the team principal, also one who likes to take risks, didn't hold back. It's a precise change in philosophy. For years, Ferrari was criticized for its caution, especially with the advent of the power unit, much work was done to make it unbreakable, fearing possible breakdowns, only to discover on track that the new electric engine was very sturdy but did not guarantee Mercedes’ speed. Back then the German dominance was born and the then chief of the engine department, Luca Marmorini,paid for that. He wasn’t bold enough, just like the rest of the team, that, as tradition, never exaggerated on the aerodynamics with the consequence of resulting inferior to the futuristic and slender Redbull. But now there's a different approach, taking risks to upset established balances. The challenge is finding the right balance between performance and reliability,because it’s clear that Vettel (and Raikkonen) can't afford any more retirements if they want to compete with Rosberg. Mechanical failures need to be eliminated; the team has to be perfect in the factory, at the pit stops, and on the track. In Bahrain, Ferrari assured that this will be the case in the future. Arrivabene expresses his disappointment (thinking about the other Ferrari engines that finished the race, Grosjean's Haas and the two Saubers) and urges all his men to work hard. The cause of the smoke from Vettel's car is still unclear; we'll have to wait until the engine is on the bench and disassembled. However, it's likely to be an injector issue, not a valve, a minor problem but enough to evaporate hopes of success. The Ferrari team will try to fix the issues, aware that they have a good performance base. According to Arrivabene, in Australia, without the Safety Car, Vettel would have won, and without the engine failure, he would have competed with Rosberg. It's good that it's like this; otherwise, the possible gamble would turn into a mockery.