F1 Co-Op Season 4 Kicks Off with a Thrilling Battle in Bahrain

The wait is over, and the time for speculation has ended. Season 4 of the F1 Co-Op Championship is underway, with the Bahrain Grand Prix setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying season. As the lights went out, all eyes were on Ferrari, the team that made the biggest headlines in the offseason by signing three-time world champion Kruimel and two-time runner-up The Captain. The question loomed: could they bring Ferrari back to its former glory? Would their long-standing rivalry finally be settled on equal footing? Meanwhile, McLaren looked strong, Aston Martin hoped to continue its dominance, and Mercedes aimed to return to the top.

Qualifying: McLaren Takes the Spotlight, Ferrari Struggles

McLaren showed its pace in qualifying, with George Russell storming to pole position with a 1:25.980 lap. Kruimel secured second, splitting the McLarens, while Sergio Perez slotted into third. Aston Martin and Mercedes followed closely, while Ferrari’s The Captain managed only P6, raising concerns about his form in the new car. Though Kruimel won the first battle between the Ferrari drivers, the real test would come on race day.

Race Start: Chaos Unfolds Behind the Leaders

Russell had a strong launch, while Kruimel latched onto his gearbox, choosing patience over a desperate lunge. Further back, Perez, Alonso, and Sainz went three-wide into Turn 1, creating a chaotic battle that allowed the front two to break away. The Captain’s race took an early hit when he made slight contact with Leclerc, damaging his front wing. This forced him to concede positions, and in a desperate move into Turn 4, he overshot, losing further ground. By the end of the first lap, Russell and Kruimel already had a two-second lead, while The Captain found himself struggling in P8.

Early Drama: The Captain’s Nightmare Continues

Despite his damage, The Captain fought to recover, targeting former teammate Lewis Hamilton. His first attempt at a move in Turn 10 went horribly wrong—Hamilton aggressively shut the door, making contact and inflicting further damage to The Captain’s side-pods and floor. Now dealing with a severely compromised car, The Captain dropped to P10, losing spots to Norris, Gasly, and Piastri. He attempted to fight back but struggled in the high-downforce corners. A mistake in Turn 4 saw him fall to P12 behind Verstappen and Tsunoda, prompting an early pit stop on Lap 8 to change tires and attempt an undercut.

The Lead Battle: A Game of Strategy

At the front, Kruimel was methodical. He used DRS to stay within striking distance of Russell but refrained from making a reckless move. Instead, the two built a gap over Perez and Leclerc, turning the race into a tactical duel. When Kruimel pitted on Lap 9, he rejoined ahead of Perez due to a slightly faster stop, setting up a crucial phase of the race. When Russell emerged from his stop a lap later, he found himself behind Kruimel, who had successfully undercut the McLaren.

Russell, however, wasn’t finished. With fresher tires, he quickly reclaimed the lead with DRS assistance. The two engaged in a thrilling game of cat and mouse, swapping positions multiple times. But Kruimel had a plan—he knew that leading into the final lap would be the key to victory.

The Final Laps: A Tactical Masterclass

As the race neared its conclusion, Kruimel executed his strategy to perfection. He overtook Russell in the penultimate lap, carefully managing his ERS to fend off any counterattack. In a stunning display of racecraft, he held his position to take a dramatic victory in his first race for Ferrari, defying expectations that the team would struggle to compete at the front. Russell finished a close second, while Sainz emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle with Leclerc for the final podium spot.

The Captain Salvages Points, But Disappointment Reigns

Despite his early setbacks, The Captain clawed his way back to P9, earning two points—but it was a far cry from what he had hoped for in his Ferrari debut. “This is not how you want to start a season,” he admitted. “From Lap 1, my car was compromised, and after the hit from Hamilton, it was just survival. We need to regroup and come back stronger in China.”

The Road Ahead: A Season Full of Uncertainty

Bahrain provided a tantalizing glimpse into what could be one of the most unpredictable seasons yet. With six different teams occupying the top six positions, no single team appears to hold a dominant edge. Ferrari leads both championships, but the battle is only just beginning. Upgrades, rivalries, and on-track drama will define the coming races. One thing is certain: if Bahrain is any indication, F1 Co-Op Season 4 is set to be an instant classic.