Currently reading: Alonso wins in Bahrain - pics

Alonso leads Ferrari one-two on debut for his new team; Hamilton third; Schumacher sixth

Fernando Alonso took victory in F1's season-opening Bahrain GP on his debut for Ferrari.

Alonso, who started third, looked like he would have to settle for second place behind Red Bull's pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel, before an exhaust problem dropped the German down to fourth. The Spaniard's Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa took second to secure a Ferrari one-two. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton completed the podium.

Read Autocar's full guide to the 2010 F1 season

On his F1 comeback, Michael Schumacher took a solid sixth place, one position behind his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg, who impressed on his debut for the team. Schumacher finished one place ahead of world champion Jenson Button, who lacked the pace of his McLaren team mate Hamilton.

Red Bull's Mark Webber, Force India's Valentino Liuzzi and Williams' Rubens Barrichello completed the points-scoring positions.

In the battle of the new teams, it was Lotus who came out on top. Both drivers made the finish - Heikki Kovalainen was 15th and Jarno Trulli was 17th. Lotus had been battling with the Virgin team for on-track position, before both of its drivers were forced to retire with reliability issues.

The HRT team completed 20 laps between both its drivers in what was essentially a high-profile test session for the team. The next race takes place in a fortnight's time in Australia.

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drivedrivedrive 15 March 2010

Re: Alonso wins Bahrain GP on Ferrari debut

Peter Cavellini wrote:

So, sensible suggestions, what's needed to make F1 a faith again?

Send a delegation to the states, and find out how the IRL cars can drive nose to tail without losing front downforce and understeering off ?

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Peter Cavellini 15 March 2010

Re: Alonso wins Bahrain GP on Ferrari debut

So, sensible suggestions, what's needed to make F1 a faith again?

MattDB 15 March 2010

Re: Alonso wins Bahrain GP on Ferrari debut

I agree the race was dull when your focus was in the top 10, but the new boys actually put on a show. Forget the HRT brigade who are on a mission to pour mud on the Senna name, but Virgin (when running) and Lotus were pretty dicey with each other and looked like they were having a fun fight for 18th place.

The big issue here is putting the fun back into the viewing. I think it would be very sneaky and quite amusing for one of the teams to reintroduce kers and not let on. At the end of the day, they can still legally do it and it would certainly spice it up a bit and compensate for over weight cars that can't overtake.