It is a credit to this entertaining and unpredictable Formula One season that after three races we are still not completely sure who has the upper hand between Ferrari and Mercedes-GP.
Yes, it was Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel who were the ones celebrating come the end of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, but Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes put in a big surge in the final laps that, while ultimately futile, highlighted that the German marque still have strong raw pace.
The first half of the race belonged to Vettel, and that was where he won the race.
He overtook Hamilton at the start to move to second, behind Valtteri Bottas, the pole-sitter in the second Mercedes.
Vettel was glued to the back of the Mercedes during the first stint, unable to pass but able to sit comfortably within a second of Bottas, with Hamilton a further second back.
Ferrari made the call to pit early at the start of Lap 10 in an attempt to gain track position for Vettel, something that paid off as his speed on new tyres was strong.
But what helped him more was when Lance Stroll’s Williams was struck by Carlos Sainz’s Toro Rosso at the start of Lap 12, which brought out the safety car.
Vettel’s speed on fresh rubber had guaranteed that he was going to leapfrog Bottas regardless, who was struggling with his tyre pressures, but the full caution period actually hurt his real rival, Hamilton.
Because he was still running behind Bottas, Hamilton was obliged to have to pit right behind Bottas on the same lap, with too much track position and time to be lost by staying out.
Hamilton knew he would suffer by having to sit for a few seconds behind Bottas as the Mercedes mechanics serviced him first, so he slowed a little coming into the pits to try to minimise his waiting time.
Unfortunately he slowed too much, holding up the Red Bull Racing of Daniel Ricciardo, and this would prove costly as he was penalised with a five-second time penalty by the race stewards.
That was served at Hamilton’s second stop later in the race, when the mechanics had to wait five seconds before they could touch his car.
Hamilton had moved to second after the safety car by overtaking Bottas, but his long second stop had left him back in third, more than 20 seconds behind Vettel.
But in the closing laps Hamilton began to make up ground rapidly, overtaking Bottas easily, and then circulating sometimes as much as 1.5 seconds a lap faster than Vettel.
Some of this can be explained by Vettel being caught up in traffic, and also the fact the Ferrari driver had no reason to try and match Hamilton’s lap times, given he had an advantage and was running comfortably at the front on his own.
But, even if it was for show, it was great entertainment as Hamilton closed to within six seconds by the time that Vettel crossed the line to claim his 44th career win.
It is now 2-1 to Ferrari this year in terms of race wins in what is rapidly unfolding into a private duel between them and Mercedes for race wins in 2017.
It has been interesting that in each race, Mercedes have had the raw speed advantage on a Saturday in qualifying, but it has been much more evenly matched on race day.
Vettel and Ferrari were quicker than Hamilton in Australia, but the Briton could rightly lament the time lost after his first pit stop behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for costing him a chance to stay ahead of Vettel there. Then in China, Hamilton had led in the damp conditions, but Vettel had pitted early, but a safety car period actually worked against him and he lost ground and had to fight back to second from fifth, and by the time he got there Hamilton was long gone.
Yesterday was an odd one, as both men were held up by Bottas in the opening stages.
Both drivers showed bursts of impressive speed and Ferrari and Vettel probably deserved the spoils for their strategy call to pit early.
But it sets things up nicely for the rest of the season.
After the past three years of Mercedes domination it is great to actually have genuine competition, at least between two teams, for the wins, and if the narrative continues of Mercedes taking the poles and Ferrari having the edge on Sundays then it should add up to many more fascinating next few months.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
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Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.