As the dust settles on the 2024 Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain, Fernando Alonso weighs in on the emerging hierarchy, confirming what many have suspected: the dominance of Red Bull and Ferrari is set to continue. “We have said all winter that Red Bull and Ferrari were a little better than the rest,” Alonso observed, highlighting the continuity in performance that mirrors last season’s outcomes. “In Bahrain it was like that and it seemed like a surprise to many people. That’s what surprised me – that the result in Bahrain could surprise anyone.”
Alonso’s commentary echoes the sentiments of seasoned F1 journalist Michael Schmidt, who also recognizes Aston Martin as the fifth force, trailing behind the likes of McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and the leading pack of Red Bull. The aftermath of Bahrain has left competing teams like Mercedes and Ferrari in a state of reflection, with Christian Danner noting, “The way Mercedes and Ferrari reacted to Red Bull’s result in Bahrain was like licking wounds and making excuses. McLaren is also keeping a low profile.”
Danner adds, “They definitely didn’t think that Max Verstappen’s dominance would remain so blatant,” pointing out the unexpected extent of Red Bull’s lead. Schmidt further asserts that Red Bull, with Verstappen at the helm, is showing even more dominance than in the previous year, placing Ferrari as the runner-up while the true pace of Mercedes remains a question.
In an intriguing twist, Schmidt positions Haas as the surprise of the season, indicating a significant improvement that has upset F1’s bottom-five pecking order, where Williams, Sauber, and Alpine are now trailing. “If you take the quality of the drivers into account, Alpine is last by a considerable margin. Hard to believe, but true,” he claims, highlighting the challenges faced by the Renault-affiliated team, which has seen key personnel changes such as Bob Bell’s departure to Aston Martin.
Despite the shifting dynamics, Alonso maintains a realistic outlook for the upcoming races, including Jeddah. “The problem is that the cars will not really have any changes. The cars will be identical,” he explains, tempering expectations for any dramatic upsets in the established order. “I know there is always this desire to talk about elements that could help stop Red Bull’s domination, but it’s not as simple as that. I hope I’m wrong and I can talk about a good result from Aston Martin, but it will be difficult,” Alonso concedes, preparing for another challenging season with the pragmatic understanding that, “I’m not expecting a miracle. I think we’ll be the fifth force again.”
(GMM)
