Less than 100 days after the last season drew to a close, Formula 1 opened its new season with a spectacular race in Bahrain. @ClaireCottingham brought RaceFans readers the news from the track.
Thursday
The new season got off to a markedly different start for media in the paddock. The FIA has ditched the previous ‘media day’, which includes roundtable interviews with drivers and the press conference, in favour of a new ‘three-day’ event.
It meant the media still had to arrive at the circuit regardless on Wednesday to make sure they didn’t miss out on any extra nuggets from the paddock on Thursday. Therefore some teams also took advantage of the opportunity to ensure they got some extra coverage.
Ferrari were the only team to put their drivers up for the English-speaking print media, with Charles Leclerc first to field questions. With the Ferrari hype train about to leave the station after two win-less years for the team, I asked if he was feeling any added pressure.
Leclerc…