How have McLaren and Alfa Romeo made biggest gains in Bahrain?

McLaren and Alfa Romeo seem to be involved in a close fight on the grid. Interestingly, where the 2019 F1 season stands, McLaren have incredibly demonstrated the grit and will to make do for so many seasons’ failings.

So far, where the 2019 F1 season goes, McLaren, despite being behind Alfa Romeo, who have gathered 4 points so far, have shown great pace at Sakhir.

Where the 2019 Bahrain qualifying stood, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. clearly seemed the faster drivers when compared to Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. This was evident in both Q1 and Q2 and it wasn’t before Q3 where the Spanish driver seemed to lose a bit of touch, therefore prompting Raikkonen to bounce back.

But that said, during the final qualifying run, it was Kimi, who managed a place higher up on Lando Norris of McLaren.

The Iceman, seen struggling all throughout especially vis-a-vis the visibly quicker McLaren of Norris was able to do just enough to bag P8 on the grid. Following him closely on P9 would be McLaren rookie, Lando Norris.

But all that told, in this close fight as expected to pan out between Alfa Romeo and Lando Norris, how is it that the two teams have gained at Bahrain?

Does anyone of us have an answer?

Well, apparently, the addition of a third DRS zone at the Bahrain International Circuit should have helped significantly reduce lap-times around the track this year, a common fact.

Additionally, where the past 12 months stand, it has been found that the year-on-year lap times gained by different teams has also added a bright verve of sparkle for teams such as McLaren and Alfa Romeo.

Of the ten teams that are fighting on the gird, there are three specifically who have made the most significant gains. And needless to say, among this lot are both McLaren and Alfa Romeo.

A leading news portal on Formula 1 elaborated this pithily and shared the following-

Alfa Romeo have made by far the greatest progress in 12 months. McLaren have made impressive gains too and got both cars into Q3 today.

So did Haas, who have drawn slightly clear of the midfield pack and, at this track at least, are snapping at Red Bull’s heels. K-Mag, who had missed out on beating Max Verstappen to fifth place by just five-thousandths of a second.

Heading into the race weekend Magnussen admitted he was surprised the midfield has closed the gap to the ‘big three’ teams.

“I don’t know why that is but it is true that we are slightly closer to the top guys, the top teams. The whole midfield is very close and the whole midfield is much closer to the top.”