F1 2019: 5 Early Predictions for the Bahrain Grand Prix

#2 No Mercedes on the Podium

Bahrain does generally see some crazy retirements

After a dream scenario for Mercedes in Australia where they not only took a 1-2 finish, but also managed to escape without seeing red on the podium, we see the fortunes turning in Bahrain.

We all want a close title race this season and one way for that to occur would be for Mercedes to not appear on the podium in Bahrain, while Ferrari lap it up and take full advantage of a Silver Arrows off day.

What could happen to keep five-time World Champion and the current Championship leader out of the top three positions?

I don't see it being anything dramatic, I feel that it will be more like Ferrari's general dragging race in Australia, where the Mercedes just don't have the best starts and find themselves unable to catch up to the top pack.

Bahrain does generally see some crazy retirements, from crashes and engine failures to the aforementioned pit stop troubles, so maybe we could see a Mercedes in the wall or going down in smoke. However, I just see Mercedes taking a backseat in Bahrain and allowing their rivals in Ferrari and Red Bull to pull some points back.