2019 Bahrain GP: 5 Predictions For Round Two of The Season

2019 Bahrain GP is hours away from the start. In a few hours from now, once the pecking order is decided post- qualifying, 20 cars and therefore, 10 teams would be ready to contest in what is expected to be a titanic duel in the desert.

Considered a premier event in the Middle East, the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix will be the fifteenth installment of the contest, held annually at Sakhir.

The 2019 Bahrain Grand is expected to unfurl an interesting battle for the troika comprising Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, with only the exception failing to find a podium at Melbourne.

But out here in the limitless expanse of the desert, all of this could change for Ferrari, past winners in 2017 and 2018 editions.

The above told, what are the key predictions for the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix; who will call the shots and who will surprise the rest on the grid.

Let’s delve in some conjecture!

Mercedes, familiar frontrunners on the grid haven’t yet won at Sakhir in the past couple of installments of the event.

Back in 2017 and 2018, they were the runner’s up at Sakhir, with Ferrari calling the shots.

However, as seen at Melbourne, in Valtteri Bottas, a new force at Mercedes seems to have arisen. In the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix event, it would be the Finn who’ll clinch the pole ahead of the Ferraris and his teammate and shall also set the fastest lap of the race.

In the end, it would be a tightly-contested Mercedes 1-2 at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix; thus ending doubts about the Silver Arrows’ superiority in the desert.

Sebastian Vettel‘s form at Sakhir has been quite exemplary, to be frank. A four-time winner here, the German will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins in the 2019 race. But unfortunately, it won’t transpire.

In the qualifying run up to the main race, the Ferrari’s will unfurl better pace as seen at Melbourne. Still, they would struggle in front of the better race-pace that will aid their arch-rivals, Mercedes.

The above told, the only saving grace for the German would be a fighting third that he’ll garner for a side that is desperate to find points and get going this season.

When Nico Hulkenberg recently mentioned that ‘Haas are the fastest of the lot in the midfield,’ it didn’t really seem too irrational a statement.

To be frank, if there’s a team that has consistently impressed with sheer race-pace then it’s Haas.

It wasn’t too long ago that Kevin Magnussen of all drivers (with all due respect) set the fastest lap of the race at the challenging Singapore circuit.

Even as his 1:41:905 on Lap 50 of 61 in Singapore wasn’t a blistering one, it by no means meant a poor effort.

Since then, Haas managed useful points to end up fifth on the Constructor’s standings, only 29 points shy of Renault in 2018.

This year, they’ve begun quite well with Magnussen, an under-appreciated driver opening their account with 8 useful points following his P6. In so doing, he kept Nico, P7 at bay and also the likes of Alfa Romeo’s Raikkonen behind.

This time, Magnussen will continue to dominate and shall feature among the top five in an accident-free contest that’ll see Hulk and Kimi challenging him for a fighting finish.

A major factor of the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix has to be whether Daniel Ricciardo can get going?

Not the best driver on his home turf, the Aussie endured a forgettable run at Albert Park, following an opening lap skirmish also involving Racing Point’s Peres.

But out here at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix, Ricciardo, desperate to break into top ten for starters will do just about enough to clinch anywhere between seventh to tenth. In so doing, he will demonstrate the fight to battle Hulk, Kimi, Grosjean, and the likes but will give in as the contest draws to a close.

Approaching 40, the Kimster, who only half a year ago, set the fastest lap of F1, is still going strong.

While he is the most experienced driver on the grid considering there’s no Alonso on the grid anymore, he is yet to land on the podium. Not that the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix would present him that opportunity, but Kimi will still do well enough to keep both McLaren’s-arguably of the same race-pace as the Alfa Romeo- at bay to emerge in front.

Still, he will not do better than going the sixth or eighth-fastest eventually. Yet, he will prove why’s so highly rated at the twilight zone of his career.