Formula: A Tale of Survival (Chapter 2. An Al-Bahrayn Rose)
Bahrain Int'l Circuit, Sahkir, Bahrain
PRE-RACE BRIEFINGS
Bahrain. What can (or can't) I say about this?
The torrential sandstorm that tormeted Bahrain was the worst ever thing that we have ever encountered. However, that's not all. The Grand Prix was cancelled several years back due to some… what was that again?
But still, the grand prix must go on. We arrived in Bahrain with high hopes that we are going to put in a spectacular race.
Right, before anyone forgets, here are the standings after the previous race from Australia:
DRIVERS STANDINGS:
A. Wolff (25 pts)
S. Pérez (18 pts)
E. Ocon (15 pts)
V. Bottas (12 pts)
N. Rosberg (10 pts)
M. Verstappen (9 pts)
C. Leclerc (6 pts)
S. Vettel (4 pts)
K. Magnussen (2 pts)
L. Stroll (1 pt)
A. Giovinazzi (0 pts)
K. Schumacher (0 pts)
L. Hamilton (0 pts)
M. Ericsson (0 pts)
N. Latifi (0 pts)
N. Mazepin (0 pts)
O. Piastri (0 pts)
R. Grosjean (0 pts)
S. Bourdais (0 pts)
S. Hedgehog (0 pts)
CONSTRUCTORS STANDINGS:
Aptive Motorsports (25 pts)
Devon Motorsports (24 pts)
Red Bull Racing (24 pts)
Mercedes (22 pts)
Haas (2 pts)
Evano Transit Motorsports (0 pts)
McLaren (0 pts)
Sauber (0 pts)
Williams (0 pts)
And so without further ado, let's get things started!
FREE PRACTICE SESSIONS (MAR 17)
Regularly, I would come by the circuit and do some laps with cars from Boston Martini (V12 Veggie), Ferrere (612 Spaghetti, ZF09 Storione), Haw Flakes (New Spicy, Crabmeat R), Mamboghini (Adventura MP700-4, Hors-d'œuvre MP610-4, and my favorite, Gnocchi LP560-4), Porphe (Nein-One-One Carbornara S), Tofu (Soba Mk. IV) and clock in lap times that were sometimes casually good, when I'm with my girlfriend (see end for details).
But on an actual AMF-Z02, it was mind-blowing.
During FP3, Verstappen was quickest on the beginning and last sector where the drag reduction is effective in making an F1 car go vroom at 360 km/h. I was fastest on none of such sectors as I battled against William's test driver, Felipe-Drugovich Nasr, to cinch in 13th fastest for both FP1 and FP3.
Then out of the blue, I oversteered into a gravel trap off Turn 4, and into the barrier with a shunt measuring 46G. It was my first racing accident, but I managed to not get the car wrecked.
I walked back to the pit garage of my own team, and slouched on a chair in frustration.
QUALIFYING (MAR 18)
Under normal circumstances the grid would be quite the "chaps" that everyone that talked about. Qualifying went like a breeze. I ended up...
...on pole. After all those penalties applied to those who used more than the quota allowed.
RACE DAY (MAR 19)
Very soon, it was time for Race Day and everyone was in line for a race. At 2 pm, my team boss Taria Tauri was waiting for me at the paddock when I arrived all casually suited up. She laughed, "Aaron, why are you dressed up like this? I mean, do I look like I'm single?" I then said with a smile "No, madam. Just had to look quite the best after the race. And you look pretty when you're single." She playfully shoved me, "Oh, you!" and retorted.
In her mind, she thinks that I am in the mood to flirt with her. Her sweet smile was all it takes to make me feel happy.
Then it was time for Race Day five hours later. I settled on pole position, while all the other drivers from the other teams all gotten penalties after they had a little too much to 'drive'.
All five lights are out, and I zoomed past Turn 1, avoiding yet another Turn 1 Carnage right behind me. The carnage saw three drivers out of the Grand Prix. Can you guess who's out? Safety Car's called out for a few laps. By Lap 12, I was five seconds ahead of my teammate when he was called in to the pits ot change tyres. Strategy causes?
By Lap 46, some drivers, were in their own battles when I was entangled with one between Schumacher, when the flashback of a Hartley-Gasly collision repeated. I was going down to Turn 4 at a blistering 310 km/h when Schumacher trudged along on my racing line with a flat-spotted front right tyre…
Schumacher:
I have a problem with the front wing, or puncture, I don't know what happened after I gone off into Turn 2…!
de Cruz:
Yeah we saw it, we saw that spin. Just try not to push the car too hard, also you've got flat-spotted on the front-right make sure to send the car home.
…and I collided into her rear left, puncturing my front-right tyre, and sending me airborne, into a spin, then across the gravel trap off Turn 4, and straight into a wall.
Tauri:
Are you okay? That was a big one, confirm you're okay.
Wolff:
What the…! When I was in my best position…! Unacceptable! I cannot believe that I'm coming at 320 on my line and someone came out of nowhere and ruined my race!
Winter Schnee:
Yellow on Sector 1, yellow on Sector 1, hold position, hold position.
Hedgehog:
To box?
Winter Schnee:
Negative. Hold position, we're staying out. Yellow on Turn 4, Yellow on Turn 4. Schumacher from Williams has a small blister on front-right after Turn 2, DNF'd Aaron at T4, then retired due to mechanical failure.
Hedgehog:
Copy. What position I am in now?
Winter Schnee:
P4, Sierra, P4. Hold position until end of Safety Car. Then you can decide to pit or not, for mediums or hards
The Yellow Flags was called in on Lap 47, and Schumacher retired due to mechanical failure. Sierra was in P3 at the time, with Mazepin P2, and Verstappen P1. Three laps later, he overtook Mazepin in Turn 10, and maintained the position until the white flag was flown, then attacked Verstappen going to Turn 1. He overtook Verstappen with DRS along Turns 3 and 4, and by the time the chequered flag was flown, he was in P1, while Max Verstappen was in P2.
The standings are as follows:
RESULTS:
(S. Hedgehog, 57 Laps, +25 pts)
(M. Verstappen, 57 Laps, +18 pts)
(N. Mazepin, 57 Laps, +15 pts)
(S. Vettel, 57 Laps, +12 pts)
(S. Bourdais, 57 Laps, +10 pts)
(V. Bottas, 57 Laps, +8 pts)
(C. Leeclerc, Laps, +6 pts)
(A. Giovinazzi, 57 Laps, +4 pts)
(N. Latifi, 57 Laps, +2 pts)
(R. Grosjean, 57 Laps, +1 pt)
(K. Magnussen, 56 Laps, +0 pts)
(N. Rosberg, 56 Laps, +0 pts)
(M. Ericsson, 56 Laps, +0 pts)
(L. Hamilton, 56 Laps, +0 pts)
(O. Piastri, 56 Laps, +0 pts)
DNF:
(K. Wolff, 47 Laps, Power Unit)
(A. Wolff, 46 Laps, Collision)
(E. Ocon, 2 Laps, Accident)
(S. Perez, 0 Laps, Collision)
(L. Stroll, 0 Laps, Collision)
FASTEST LAP: S. Hedgehog
DRIVERS STANDINGS:
M. Verstappen (27 pts)
S. Hedgehog (26 pts)
V. Wolff (25 pts)
V. Bottas (20 pts)
S. Perez (18 pts)
S. Vettel (16 pts)
E. Ocon (15 pts)
N. Mazepin (15 pts)
C. Leclerc (12 pts)
N. Rosberg (10 pts)
S. Bourdais (10 pts)
A. Giovinazzi (4 pts)
K. Magnussen (2 pts)
N. Latifi (2 pts)
R. Grosjean (1 pts)
L. Stroll (1 pts)
L. Hamilton (0 pts)
M. Ericsson (0 pts)
O. Piastri (0 pts)
K. Schumacher (0 pts)
CONSTRUCTORS STANDINGS:
Aptive Motorsports (51 pts)
Red Bull Racing (39 pts)
Mercedes (30 pts)
Devon Motorsports (30 pts)
Haas (12 pts)
Evano Transit Motorsports (16 pts)
Sauber (4 pts)
McLaren (0 pts)
Williams (0 pts)
PODIUM CEREMONY
The podium consists of Sierra (my team mate), Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, and, Mazepin from Evano Transit Motorsports, and this was the best points ever taken. I had a conversation with Kelly, and she has admitted that the Hartley-Gasly-based incident costed her 5 seconds at the pit-stop.
CHAOTIC THRILLS AT THE FORMULA 1 GULF AIR AL SAKHIR GRAND PRIX: SIERRA HEDGEHOG CLINCHES VICTORY AMIDST TURMOIL
Date: 19 March, 20XX
Location: Sakhir, Bahrain
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Al Sakhir Grand Prix proved to be a rollercoaster of a race, delivering heart-stopping moments and unexpected twists that left both fans and experts alike on the edge of their seats. The Bahrain International Circuit witnessed an electrifying contest on Sunday as Aptive Motorsports' Sierra Hedgehog claimed an astonishing victory, while Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen and Evano Transit Motorsports' Nikita Mazepin secured their spots on the podium.
Hedgehog's triumph marked an exceptional turn of events for the Aptive Motorsports team, overshadowed only by the unfortunate early exit of their star driver, Aaron Wolff. The German driver, who had exhibited remarkable form throughout the weekend, retired on Lap 46 after a dramatic collision with Williams Racing's Kelly Schumacher, which saw Schumacher herself sending Aaron Wolff out of the race.
The Sakhir Grand Prix also saw a long-awaited breakthrough for Russian-born Ukrainian driver Nikita Mazepin, who has struggled to secure a podium finish during his tenure with the Haas F1 team. The Russian driver's impressive performance behind the wheel of his Evano Transit Motorsports's ETS-02 showcased his growing prowess, and his third-place finish drew cheers from both fans and team members.
However, it was the Belgian-born Dutch driver Max Verstappen who emerged as one of the stars of the event, demonstrating the skill and determination that have become synonymous with his name. The Red Bull Racing driver's second-place finish was a testament to his relentless pursuit of victory, despite the relentless challenges posed by both his rivals and the unforgiving Bahrain circuit.
Sierra Hedgehog's win, while a cause for celebration for Aptive Motorsports, was not without its moments of tension. The race was peppered with nail-biting incidents, from daring overtakes to dramatic spins, keeping viewers glued to their screens throughout the gripping contest. Hedgehog's victorious moment on the podium was a culmination of her unwavering determination and skill, a true embodiment of the spirit of motorsport.
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Al Sakhir Grand Prix will undoubtedly go down in history as a race of chaos and excitement, where Sierra Hedgehog's triumph, Max Verstappen's resolute performance, and Nikita Mazepin's breakthrough podium combined to create a spectacle that will be remembered for years to come. As the racing world takes a breath and reflects on the events of this unforgettable day, fans and experts alike are left eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this exhilarating Formula 1 season.
A bad race finish for Aaron meant that his team mate has pipped him in the standings!
Can Aaron redeem his payback in Saudi Arabia, after the Hartley-Gasly crash?
Find out next in Round 3: Saudi Arabia!
NOTES:
- The Boston Martini V12 Veggie was based on the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
- The Ferrere 612 Spaghetti and the Ferrere ZF09 Storione was based on the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Ferrari SF90 Stradale respectively.
- The Haw Flakes Crabmeat R and the Haw Flakes New Spicy was based on the Honda Civic R and Honda NSX respectively.
- The Mamboghini Adventura MA700-4, the Mamboghini Hors-d'œuvre MH610-4, and the Mamboghini Gnocchi MG560-4 was based on the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4, and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder respectively.
- The Porphe Nein-One-One Carbornara S was based on the Porsche 911 Carrera S.
- The Tofu Soba Mk. IV was based on the fourth generation Toyota Supra, model A80.
- The cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix happened in 2011, which is more than just "several years".
- The collision between Kelly Schumacher and Aaron Wolff is a reference to the near-miss at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Pierre Gasly almost crashed into Brendon Hartley at 200 mph into Turn 15 in the first Qualifying session. Hartley had a problem with his car as he trundled slowly into Turn 15 when Gasly came in that turn at such high speeds he almost crashed into Hartley.