Three months after the legendary title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the first race of a new Formula 1 season is scheduled for Sunday. While the drivers in Bahrain are preparing for the start of a new year, many Brabant fans are eagerly looking forward to the start of the season.
“It’s great that it’s starting again. I didn’t sit still for those three months, but if you always look fanatically you will miss it, of course,” says Fiona Adriaansen. “We were able to recover from that last race for three months. How many times are we going to see a final race like this? The whole world went crazy, all the fans started to party. That was so cool to see.”
Just like last year, it is expected that it will be exciting, especially because there are new rules. “It will most likely involve three teams this season: Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari, because they have also done well. Mercedes has been doing the same for six years, saying that it is nothing and that they are not going to win anything,” says Bas van Bodegraven .
“Back in school you always had someone who said he hadn’t learned and then got an A.” Still, after seeing all the test days and the free practice sessions in Bahrain, the Tilburger has the idea that they really have problems this year: “If they have performed like this in recent weeks to fool things, they will get an Oscar .”
“Last year I always said that Max would become world champion,” Adriaansen adds. “I don’t know whether that will work again this year. It will be a very exciting season. There are also a lot of snags, with the new rules and new cars. That makes it even more fun to watch. Maybe that one disappears with the northern sun. I hope it is Max, but it could also be someone from Ferrari.”
Nardje Berk lowers the sound of free practice a bit when he expresses his expectations for next season. “Last year I thought I had six rounds left: try again next year Max. And then he just became world champion. Now it just looks good. Ferrari has come close, which creates more tension.”
De Helmonder knows that there are new rules, although he does not yet know exactly what all the new rules are. In that respect, he also makes it very simple, laughing out loud. “You have two pedals. A brake pedal and an accelerator. You must use the first one safely. And the other one, accelerate!”
In a normal situation, the Formula 1 season starts in Australia. “Then I set the alarm for half past four. Normally I can’t get out of bed at such a time, but then I jump out,” says Adriaansen, who comes from Waalwijk. “That’s the real start. Now it’s different, Bahrain starts at 4 in the afternoon. But it’s just going to be another great weekend. And the champagne is ready again.”
Van Bodegraven is tense again on Sunday, although there is a different feeling due to last year’s world title. “It is very good that he already has it. That is very nice. As he himself says, from now on everything is bonus.”