Continue
The weekend the Formula One world controversially headed to Bahrain, for the first race in two years. Following last years civil unrest, there were murmours that the region was still unsafe to hold a race. However, the ever-pragmatic Bernie Ecclestone assured the world that it could go head, and would do so safely.
While a cloud of ignominy hovered over proceedings, racing ultimately blew it away, with a fantastic Grand Prix packed full of wheel-to-wheel racing.
Here are just a handful of points from a great weekend in the Gulf.
Form Is Temporary, Class Is Permanent
As the old adage goes 'form is temporary, class is permanent' and that couldn't have been truer this weekend with Sebastien Vettel. After failing to seriously challenge in the opening three races of the season, all of a sudden people were questioning whether Vettel really was the natural successor to the Schumacher throne.
However, during a weekend when the world seemed to debate whether Formula One should have been in the gulf state at all, the double world champion reassumed the familiar position on the top step of the podium.
It had been a brilliant two-days for young Seb, who looked composed throughout, even with a ferocious Kimi Raikkonen snapping at his heels during the race.
It might not have been a vintage performance by Vettel and Red Bull, but it was a competent one, and certainly a performance which shows that they should not be written off just yet.
Kimi back near his best
It might have taken four races, but Kimi Raikkonen looked a hell of a lot like the man who won the world driver's crown in 2007. His performance on Sunday was breath-taking, taking his Lotus from a disappointing 11th position on the grid to a phenomenal second-place and consequently his first podium since the 2009 Italian Grand Prix.
And what is better is that Kimi could have even won it, given for an earlier pit-stop.
His return to Formula One after two years in the wilderness of rallying was met by a degree of consternation by many who thought that the Iceman lost his appetite for racing. Well, as Vettel put up one finger in celebration, Raikkonen figuratively put up another as he showed he is back, and the best is yet to come.
Lotus Finally Showing Their Worth
Sunday's showing by Lotus was a relief to everyone, in particular Eric Boullier, who could well have faced some tricky questions if they had failed to challenge for the forth race running.
In a pre-season which took many by surprise, it looked as though Lotus could well be the standard bearers for the midfield and could be the team to challenge the big boys in Formula One. However, teething issues during the season opener in Melbourne, followed by the unpredictability of Malaysia looked like hampering any development Lotus had promised to make.
Kimi Raikkonen's showing in China offered hope, until his tyres fell off the proverbial cliff, but it was Bahrain that all of the pieces seemed to fall into place for the Enstone based team, resulting in the first time Lotus have had two cars on the podium since 1979.
The E20 looked competitive and both drivers looked completely different from the uncertain creatures we saw in the opening races. It was a fantastic drive by both Raikkonen and Grosjean and offers a lot as the season progresses.
Grosjean's third place is further proof that French motor-racing is in a period of evolution, as he became the first French driver to achieve a podium finish since Jean Alesi in 1998.
All Talk Aside, Racing Was The Winner In Bahrain
In the fortnight leading up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, question marks were floating around as to whether the race would even go ahead.
Reports of crisis meetings with teams, petrol bombing, and drivers appearing reluctant to talk, all made it seem as though F1 was heading into a warzone.
However, the race would go ahead insisted Bernie Ecclestone and thank God it did. Regardless of your viewpoint on the ethics of visiting the fractious region, racing shone through.
It was a brilliant weekend of racing, jam-packed with great battles, fantastic racing and tons of overtaking, and arguably the most exciting race of the season (barring the unpredictability of Malaysia).
Has Pirelli's Tyre Experimentation Caused More Harm Than Good?
This season we were promised more emphasis on strategy, namely of which focuses on tyres. Following on from last years successful season, Pirelli have stepped up to the plate and have been afforded the task of bridging the gap between tyre compounds, as they try and force teams into different strategies. Now whether this has been a success is far too early to tell.
However this weekend, tyres appeared to be distinct issue for some teams. Jenson Button struggled early on with his rear tyres and ultimately found himself driving backwards.
But the most interesting victim was seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who went as far as to say that Pirelli were producing the type of tyre which was unbefitting for Formula One, high criticism indeed.
Degradation has been a huge factor of consideration this season, with Kimi Raikkonen the most recognisable case.
While Mercedes managed their tyres perfectly in China, Bahrain was a different matter altogether. Schumacher attributed his disappointing 10th position finish as solely down to high degradation, and unless the conditions are right, it looks like he will face more of the same this season.
It's easy pointing the finger solely at the individual teams and blaming the balance of their car, but there is an argument that perhaps Pirelli have caused more harm than good.
Read more blogs and articles by Simon Knights here. Follow Simon Knights on Twitter @SimonKnights
