All attention focused on the Mercedes car in the Bahrain Grand Prix

After a difficult winter test for Mercedes, Max Verstappen perhaps has a better chance than ever to place an early marker in the F1 World Championship, but the Bahrain Grand Prix has not been a good circuit for the Dutchman so far. In 2020, he achieved his first podium, but it remained 'Mercedes country'.

'Mercedes country'

Ferrari won the most often of any team in Bahrain with six victories, but in the last seven years that record has almost been conquered by Mercedes. In fact, the Germans have already won five times in Bahrain, including in 2020. It has become a bit of 'Mercedes country', the Bahrain International Circuit.

In 2020, the circuit in Sakhir was raced twice. Once in the 'normal' edition as Bahrain Grand Prix, and once as Sakhir Grand Prix on the outside track of the circuit. The first race was won by Lewis Hamilton, the second by Sergio Perez. Verstappen finished second in the first race and scored his first podium in Bahrain, but crashed out in the second race.

Verstappen's bad luck in Bahrain

And that's not for the first time, as Verstappen has rarely had any luck in Bahrain. Of his seven appearances (including the Sakhir GP) the Dutchman crashed out four times. With Toro Rosso, he still finished handsomely sixth in 2016, but with Red Bull Racing only one fourth place followed until last year.

In 2020, things seemed to be going a little better for Verstappen. In qualifying, Verstappen was 'only' three tenths short of Hamilton's pole lap, and in Sakhir that was even less than a tenth. However, that was also on a much shorter lap, making the gap relatively the same as over the entire circuit.

In the final results of the Bahrain Grand Prix it seems as if Verstappen was very competitive, but when you look at the footage, you know that Verstappen was more than 17 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton before the safety car, which was supposed to bring the drivers across the finish line after Sergio Perez's engine blew up. Not exactly competitive in the race.

It's hoped that for the first time in awhile, Verstappen will get a teammate with him. This will be the first race of the Verstappen/Perez relationship, it will be interesting to see if the two can help each other with strategy. Something the Dutchman has needed over the past two seasons. 

Who is the favourite?

As much as they struggled in the winter tests, Mercedes are seven-time World Champions. They've tricked us here before and the general consensus shows that Mercedes will be able to turn things around, even if they've only had 14 days. Hamilton remains near the top of the favourites list, but we also know how well a refreshed Valtteri Bottas starts the season. 

But plenty of bookies have placed Verstappen favourite. All attention will be on the Mercedes car in the first free practice session. If Mercedes haven't fixed the issues, then the RB16B is by far the better car and therefore rightly favourite. He'll be hoping he gets none of his Bahrain bad luck this weekend.