Sky F1's Simon Lazenby looks ahead to what is poised to be a compelling weekend in Bahrain on and off the track...
Thursday 13 December 2018 12:53, UK
The opening race weekend of Formula 1 2018 delivered controversy, a horrible couple of moments for the Haas pit crew, encouragement for McLaren, a fine drive from Daniel Ricciardo and a Ferrari win.
It was enough to sate our racing hunger for the moment. Let us hope that the race pace of the top three narrows and there are genuinely six drivers in with a shout of victory every Sunday when the lights go out.
In Bahrain, the opening act of the drama off the track is expected to begin with a bang. Liberty Media are ready to deliver their vision for 2021 and beyond to the teams - possibly with a take it or leave it edict. The stakes are high and lines have already been drawn in the sand but can a solution with universal approval be found with such varying agendas at play?
It's going to be fascinating to watch this weekend.
Liberty chairman Chase Carey joined us on Sky F1 during Sunday's build up in Australia and was candid about what the owners want: in a nutshell, more competitive racing. On this, they are aligned with the fans.
"We're excited about where we can take this sport to," Carey told me. "I think there is a broad consensus.
"There's always going to be differences in the specifics. We've got a great sport, great history, great future, great stars, great teams, and in every sport we've got to continue to find ways to make it better.
"We're excited for that opportunity and looking forward to engaging with the teams."
Martin Brundle has described the next six months as the "most important in F1 history" and Liberty's objective this week will be to present a proposal that will benefit all the teams, increase interest in the sport and show everybody they can grow the pie so that everybody can take a greater slice.
The challenge, however, will be to ally that aspiration with the fundamentals of competition. To the teams, winning is everything so why would any of them want to give up a competitive advantage? The 'haves' don't particularly want to yield to standardised parts and cost capping because the success of their brands depends on the perception of their quality and that perception is reinforced by victory.
Formula 1 fans all over the world are yearning for Ross Brawn and his team to have come up with a workable plan for 2021 and most paddock observers are of the opinion that if anyone can, Ross can.
Jean Todt is in his last term as president of the FIA. As another former Ferrari team principal what a fine legacy it would be for both men if they could broker the right deal and keep all the teams onside.
It will take any potential new entrants a couple of years to get their teams in place and ready for the new era. The time is therefore nigh. There is a storm brewing bigger than most before.
In 2014, Bahrain produced one of the best races I've seen. There were countless overtakes under the lights. It was breathless from start to finish. If round two is to be the start of the war of words off the track then let's hope its offset by drama on it.
