The 2022 Formula 1 season got underway with the Bahrain GP where Ferrari claimed a 1-2 finish and Red Bull struggled for pace and reliability.
Mercedes have had to deal with a slew of problems since pre-season testing and nobody expected them to finish on the podium.
Mercedes has had a rocky start to the new era of Formula One, with Hamilton qualifying fifth fastest for the season-opening Bahrain GP.
Verstappen was only 0.123s ahead of Sainz, who couldn't improve on his first run and finished third by 0.129s.
The first race of the season might very well see some newer faces on the podium, but the usual suspects should never be counted out.
Halfway through the hour, the reigning champion switched to soft tyres and set the fastest time with a time of 1m 31.936s.
The 2022 F1 regulations have predictably seen teams become more confident of competing for wins or points in the new season.
The Dutch F1 champion will become the first since Vettel to choose the number one to defend his title.
Drivers have had to spend most of pre-season testing getting to know the cars and a unanimous verdict is that following is a lot easier.
The rivalry that exists currently between Mercedes and Red Bull is something that will surely go down in history as one of the classic Formula One rivalries. It reached its tipping...