BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
SIR LEWIS HAMILTON AND MAX VERSTAPPEN resume their epic rivalry
LIVE MOTORSPORT Sunday, race starts 3pm,
Sky Sports F1 & Sky Sports Main Event
THE 2021 FORMULA
One season couldn’t have been any more exciting, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen winning his first world title by beating Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton in hugely controversial circumstances at the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi last December.
The 37-year-old British driver lost out on what would have been a record eighth championship – and a fifth in a row – and we can expect an equally gripping contest as the teams return to the grid at Bahrain on Sunday.
Here are five reasons to get excited about the new season…
TITLE RIVALS
The rivalry between Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – who is 13 years younger – is already being likened to such legendary duels as Prost versus Senna, and Hunt against Lauda. The pair clashed several times last season, with collisions at Silverstone and Monza, and we can expect plenty of flashpoints again as Hamilton seeks revenge. ‘I’m a very determined person. I’m focused on being the best I can be and coming back stronger,’ he says.
KING GEORGE?
Mercedes will boast an all-british line-up with George Russell switching over from Williams after three seasons to team up with Hamilton. The 24-year-old is replacing Valtteri Bottas, who moves to Alfa Romeo to link up with 22-year-old rookie Guanyu Zhou, the first Chinese F1 driver. ‘Joining Mercedes is a huge opportunity,’ says Russell. ‘But I’m under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge.’
WELCOME TO MIAMI
This year’s 22-race calendar sees the return of the Australian, Canadian, Japanese and Singapore Grands Prix, while the Miami Grand Prix makes its debut in May at the Miami International Autodrome near the stadium of the NFL team Miami Dolphins.
NEW-LOOK CARS
The 2022 season will feature new car designs that promise to improve the sport as a spectacle. A number of features, including a redesigned front wing and nose, mean the potential for more overtaking.
SPRINT TO SUCCESS
After being introduced last season, the new calendar will feature the F1 Sprint format at three circuits – Imola, the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos. The format involves a 100km race, with the result setting the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. This time, the top eight drivers will score points, from eight to one.