
For the neutral, that was pretty much the worst-case scenario. Formula 1 kicked off with a Red Bull 1-2 and victor Max Verstappen barely breaking sweat as he beat the field by over 20 seconds. You have to admire his and the team’s abilities but, as a sporting contest, last weekend’s Bahrain GP was distinctly lacking.
So, are there reasons to be cheerful about the campaign ahead? Jake Boxall-Legge and Alex Kalinauckas run you through how circumstances helped Red Bull and why Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren are better than they looked on Saturday in this issue. Things could be closer in Saudi Arabia this weekend…