FERRARI IS BACK!

Leclerc wins the first race of the 2022 season, and Carlos Sainz brings it home to make it a 1-2 in Bahrain! The red team hasn't had a 1-2 since 2019 when the team drivers were former Champions Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. Lewis Hamilton came in third place to complete the podium, after both of Red Bull cars broke down and had to be retired.

Magnussen is back and better than ever! The Danish driver crossed the line in fifth place, the best race result for his team, Haas.

The season will continue next week when the 20 drivers race in Saudi Arabia.

FORZA FERRARI!

GASLY GOES FASTEST, FOLLOWED BY THE PRANCING HORSE

Alpha Tauri's experienced driver, Pierre Gasly, goes fastest in the first practice session of the season in Bahrain. The french driver led the grid with a time of 1:34.193, followed by both of Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc (+0.364), and Carlos Sainz (+0.418). Alpha Tauri's car has improved during the performance, and so has Ferrari. Teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull, or McLaren are threatened by the Italian team. This result has shocked the fans, cheering for Gasly and increasing the ideas that Ferrari has potential to lead the championship. Qualifying for the Bahrain race will take place tomorrow morning 11:00am-12:00pm (EST). Keep an eye out for the first race of the season this Sunday at 11:00am.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL WILL NOT RACE IN BAHRAIN

Sebastian Vettel photographed on podium on August 1, 2021. Photo by Aston Martin F1

The four-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, will not be able to race in the first round of the 2022 season after testing positive to COVID-19. Aston Martin's reserved driver, Nico Hülkenberg, will race on behalf of Vettel.

"The teams are going to want us to stay away from the drivers, they're going to want for everyone to stay away from their drivers." Said former F1 driver Martin Brundle about the lack of precautions set by the FIA to follow regarding COVID-19.

Following Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel's positive COVID-19 results, fellow teams are beginning to worry for the well being of their workers.

The first round of the 2022 season will take place in Sakhir, Bahrain from the 18 through the 20 of March.

FERRARI TO OPTIMIZE THEIR CAR'S PERFORMANCE IN PRE-SEASON TESTING

F1-75 Photographed by Scuderia Ferrari F1.

Scuderia Ferrari's team Principle, Mattia Binotto, has shared that he plans to optimize the performance of Ferrari's new 2022 car, F1-75. Following the pre-season running in Barcelona, Spain, Binotto gathered enough information and data to have more knowledge in which parts need to be upgraded, and which parts are working correctly. The prancing horse is expected to do well in 2022, fans of the sport have high expectations of the Leclerc-Sainz duo under the direction of Binotto.

"The Scuderia certainly seem in a strong position ahead of the Official Pre-Season Test, then, but the real test comes on March 20 when the lights go out for the opening Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain."

FORMULA ONE SAYS NO TO WAR

The F1 2022 grid posing for a picture. Photo by Wires Pool

The Formula One drivers posed for a picture to share the message of support for Ukraine, wearing white shirts with the message "NO WAR #RACINGUNITED", following the events that have taken place in different cities of Ukraine. Lewis Hamilton is technically the only announced official driver that didn't take place in this initiative, due to a delay in his flight, forbidding him to be in Bahrain. Hours after the drivers shared the message of support, it was announced that Kevin Magnussen would come back to F1, joining Haas F1 Team, being the only other driver absent in this picture.

"F1 has already terminated the Russian Grand Prix contract for the foreseeable future, while sanctions tighten on Russians, sporting bodies have banned Russian athletes and teams from competing in internationally sanctioned events."

MAGNUSSEN IS BACK IN FORMULA 1

Magnussen posing for Haas. Photo by Haas Team F1

The Danish driver is making his comeback in Formula 1, after retiring in 2020. Magnussen will come in to replace Nikita Mazepin, who was let go by Haas F1 Team due to his connections to the Russian government and the lack of performance during last season in 2021.

"The signing, which is a multiyear deal, was confirmed on the eve of the second preseason test ahead of the new F1 season." wrote Nate Saunders, a ESPN writer.

Kevin Magnussen will join Mick Schumacher, becoming the only duo whose fathers were also Formula 1 drivers. Magnussen's "re-debut" will take place on the first race in the calendar, March 20, in Bahrain.