Formula 1:Ferrari 1-2 in Bahrain (Part 2 of 2)

Vettel shone for most of the race, until the gods chose a different path for him. What was a sure victory in the script was erased, when he reported that the car was losing power. In a computer generated throttle blip (a rather short time), Vettel’s role switched from predator to prey.

Like a lion after a wounded fawn, Alonso pounced and streaked past Vettel who could only watch as a mechanical problem left him ‘powerless’ to defend himself (lap 34). Other members of the pride of lions came for dinner, in the form of Massa (lap 35) and Lewis Hamilton (lap 38), thus relegating Vettel to fourth.

Schumacher

The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will serve as a reality check for all the die- hard Schumacher fans. In motorsports your past exploits are of no value. What counts is what occurs on the track on race day! The current era F1 car tends to understeer, a characteristic which Schumacher hates, so for him, this will take a little getting used to. Remember the saying about old dogs and new tricks? He started seventh on the grid and was only able to improve his position by one. He finished sixth. The lesson is clear. The podium finishes may come but, not yet.

Driving a crippled Red Bull Racing machine, Vettel held on to fourth as Nico Rosberg and the rest of the chasing pack were lining up for an ambush. To team Scuderia Ferrari goes the champagne. They were fast in testing and their thorough preparedness paid off in the reliability department. Red Bull Racing is now cursing their misfortune but they should take comfort in the fact that they still had a respectable points haul (considering the circumstances).

Ross Brawn (Mercedes GP) stated that he wanted to start with a win in Bahrain. I can see Luca di Montezemolo snickering now. I wonder what else Luca wished for. Australia in two weeks may tell us!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On- Line Writer