The 2022 season could not have started better for Ferrari. The team was quick out of the blocks in Barcelona pre-testing with a car that looked like it could fight for the championship. The Bahrain testing only solidified that claim, and now the results of the season opener speak for themselves.

The team in Red dominated the weekend, taking pole on Saturday and securing a 1-2 in the race on Sunday. The car looks clear of their competition at the moment, but that might not always be the case.

Mattia Binotto on Ferrari

Despite the stellar start to the season for Ferrari, team principal Mattia Binotto knows that there is a long way to go this season. The teams are still in process of clearing issues with their machinery, and probably have tons of pace in store.

Ferrari needs to ensure that they do not lose out on the development battle that rages throughout the season. The same was reaffirmed by Binotto after the Bahrain GP, “There’s still potential for sure, but the car needs improvement.” 

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He went on to add “We’re only going to have a few opportunities … we need to make sure they’re right and straight,” speaking on the teams always looking to improve their car. They can afford no slip-up if they want to stay ahead in the title race this season.

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He also spoke on the current budget caps in F1, which stop teams from spending exorbitant sums to develop their cars, saying “This is much more important now that it’s a budget constraint. You can’t go wrong.”

How the Season Opener in Bahrain panned out

The season opener in Bahrain left the Tifosi all around the world gleaming. The weekend in Bahrain was dominated by Ferrari who did not put any foot wrong. Charles Leclerc led from pole to win the race with teammate Carlos Sainz finishing P2.

Other Ferrari power-backed teams also enjoyed a great weekend. Kevin Magnussen of Haas finished 5th with Alfa Romeo’s Valterri Bottas right behind in P6. This Ferrari renaissance has caused a power shift in the paddock, with the team’s powertrains being the quickest.

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Will Ferrari maintain their title as a top dog throughout the season? Or do Mercedes and Red Bull have something extra up their sleeves?