2018 Bahrain Grand Prix – The Good, Bad & Ugly

Strange but true, but the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix was actually a race worth staying up/waking up for, with those loyal/mad fans treating to an early morning motor racing treat.

The race itself was won by Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari, as he clung onto first place despite a hard chasing Valtteri Bottas and some used tyres.

Lewis Hamilton had an off weekend, not helped by an engine penalty, but his weekend was much better than Kimi Raikkonen and either of the Red Bull pilots.

There were some great weekends for the battlers, especially newcomer Pierre Gasly in his Toro Rosso, and Kevin Magnussen and Haas got some compensation for failing to secure the points they deserved in Australia.

As with the 2017 season, the Good, Bad and Ugly of each race will be offered up here for some short, sharp analysis of each GP, this time for the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.

THE GOOD

SEBASTIAN VETTEL

After getting a bit lucky in Australia, there wasn’t much luck about his win in the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sure Lewis Hamilton being off the pace a little and receiving a 5 place grid penalty helped, but Vettel took pole, and led for most of the race, except for pitstops.

His tyres going off in the latter part of the race whilst in front produced a tense finish, and if the race was a few laps longer who would know if he could have held off Bottas, but the race did end and with Vettel making it two from two to start the 2018 season.

Has the early championship lead, and will be hoping he doesn’t throw it away like last season.

VALTTERI BOTTAS

Provided a decent finish, and almost did the job expected of him when Lewis Hamilton doesn’t win.

Outqualified his illustrious team mate again, after taking pole last season, and split the Ferraris from the start, you could say he did enough to be in the good books for this weekend.

PIERRE GASLY

We have been saying for a little while that Gasly – the 2016 F2/GP2 Champion is a hell of a driver, and had high hopes of doing something in F1 given the chance.

After a handful of starts at the end of 2017, which could only be described as underwhelming as the Toro Rosso – Renault relationship broke down, He did a good job in Australia and was magnificent this weekend.

Qualified 6th, helped by Max Verstappen’s woes, and started 5th helped by Hamilton’s grid penalty. Best of the rest in qualifying, and only 1.4 seconds away.

In the race he stayed out of trouble at the first corner, and held off Kevin Magnussen and the midfield gaggle early and then ran fourth until the inevitable pass by Lewis Hamilton. He eventually got that place after Kimi Raikkonen’s pitstop woes.

A great result and confidence builder for the young man.

KEVIN MAGNUSSEN

After the disappointment in Australia, Kevin Magnussen got the points haul he should have got  last race in Melbourne.

Qualified behind Gasly as next best of the rest, and spent the race behind him after dealing with all kinds of challenges early.

But he once again showed plenty of pace, and he stayed out of trouble, and there were a few opportunities to do so, his 5th place was well earned.

MARCUS ERICSSON

There have been very few good days for the Swedish driver in F1, but his 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix was an exception.

His high position was artificial after staying out longer than other drivers, but once he had he was still in the top 10, and despite being picked off by a few cars, held onto 9th spot and some valuable point for the 2018 season.

TORO ROSSO-HONDA

Perhaps the Honda isn’t that bad after all.

Having slightly embarrassed McLaren in qualifying by Gasly plonking his car 6th, and team mate Hartley ensuring both Honda powered cars were in front, the race went even better. Toro Rosso now have a 4th place and a lot early season points to their name. And look they have a quality package to be very competitive in the midfield, best of the rest battle.

SAUBER ALFA ROMEO

Great to get some points early in the season, and they look like they have moved off the bottom of the grid, at the expense of Williams so far in 2018.

MIDFIELD BATTLES

The midfield bunch look quite close this year, and some of the battles were junior category like in their swapping position, and trying from anywhere. Great times ahead if it keeps it up.

THE BAD

MAX VERSTAPPEN

Two ordinary races in a row for the young Dutchman, this one much shorter than the season opener.

Having had to start from towards the back of the grid, Max made great progress on the first lap. But heading into the first corner a second time, he actually passed Lewis Hamilton despite starting  way down on the Mercedes driver, but in that pass he gave Lewis Hamilton not enough room, and as a result suffered a puncture.

That deflating tyre eventually caused enough damage to stop the car, and complete the misery of double retirement for Red Bull. By Lap 8, he was gone.

DANIEL RICCIARDO

At least he outqualified his team mate, but what difference does that make if your car breaks down on lap 2.

Each negative could push him towards a new home in 2019, and given the occasional underwhelming performances from the number two Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, he might just upgrade.

RED BULL

It’s a bad weekend for the team if both drivers fall into the Bad category. Who knows what nuisance they could have caused.

LEWIS HAMILTON

Only qualified 4th, took a grid penalty, clashed with Max Verstappen, and ended up 3rd.

Whilst not a bad result, it certainly wasn’t a great weekend. An ugly one if you will.

WILLIAMS

Sad as it is to say, it looks like Williams are officially F1’s worst team in 2018.

Qualified 18th and 20th, and made very little progress in the race, perhaps Robert Kubica will be thanking his lucky stars he didn’t make his comeback this season. Although you do wonder if he could more out of it.

THE UGLY

FERRARI

A win is a good thing, a mechanic breaking a leg during a botched pitstop isn’t.

Despite the win, that incident was ugly enough to class their weekend as ugly.

KIMI RAIKKONEN

As above, could well have classed his weekend as good, and possibly could have finished second or first, but the pitstop put an end to that and his race.

Has been panned for his reaction to the injured mechanic, and is probably justified on first public viewing.

BRENDON HARTLEY

Received a penalty for running into Sergio Perez, and was well behind his team who starred for Toro Rosso.

THE MARTINI / MINARDI MEDAL AND CHAVES / COLONI PLATE RETURN

Back by popular demand of one person is our awards for the best F1 Driver / Team for the 2018 season.

After each race we will assign points for the Good, Bad, and Ugly described above, and some other useful tidbits of Grand Prix statistics like Overtaking, Fastest Laps, and Retirements.

With offering points for good, and taking them off for bad, we were accused of being a little too negative last year, given very few drivers and teams made it into positive territory. This season we have revamped all of our many reader and fan.

The Martini / Minardi Medal goes to the best Driver / Team for the season..
The Chaves / Life F1 Plate goes to the worst Driver / Team for the season.

THE POINTS EXPLAINED….

2 Points for featuring in the GOOD (Driver/Team)
-1 Point for BAD or UGLY (Driver/Team)
1 Point for Outqualifying Teammate (Driver)
1 Point for Pole Position (Driver/Team)
-1 Point for Last on Grid (Driver/Team)
-1 Point for Penalty Taken for Mechanical (Team)
1 Point for Top Non Big 3 Car in Top 6 in Qualifying (Driver/Team)
1 Point for Top Non Big 3 Car in Top 6 in Race (Driver/Team)
1 Point for Fastest Lap (Driver/Team)
1 Point for Most Places Gained on Lap One (Driver)
1 Point for Most Places Gained in Race (Driver)
1 Point/-1 Point for Best/Worst Pitstop (Team)
-1 Point for 1st Retirement (Driver/Team)
-1 Point for Avoidable Accident (Driver)

2018 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX MARTINI MEDAL / CHAVES PLATE RESULTS

Here’s where we post the rolling results for the season. Note some will have zero points for being good and bad, others will not be named as they haven’t done anything good or bad.

Most statistics from the outstanding RaceFans website.

MARTINI MEDAL / CHAVES PLATE

THE MINARDI MEDAL / COLONI PLATE