F1 Race Recap: A Thriller Under the Lights in Bahrain

Blog: The Tibco Blog

As the 2018 Formula 1 season gathers momentum, TIBCO partner Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport returned to Bahrain for a showdown in the desert. After a P2 and P8 finish at the Australian Grand Prix last month, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas looked for ways to outpace the competition under the lights at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Race day ready #BahrainGP

x Wolfgang Wilhelm#DrivenByEachOther #VB77 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Y5gvXtWpuK

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

The Bahrain Grand Prix was also a milestone for both Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and Lewis Hamilton — 100 races together.

Todays’s #BahrainGP marks @LewisHamilton’s 100th start for @MercedesAMGF1! Take a look back at some great team memories with Lewis and Team Principal Toto Wolff! #DrivenByEachOther #TIBCOfast #LH44 https://t.co/V6D4LMnvwL

— TIBCO Software (@TIBCO) April 8, 2018

The race started with immediate fireworks between Bottas (P3) and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen (P2).

LAP 1 IN BAHRAIN

Bottas jumps Kimi for P2
Magnussen tags Hulkenberg
Hamilton on the move#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/lkfrKw7TAb

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2018

Moments later, a familiar face emerged from the pack:

WHATTTTTTT!!! LEWIS passes THREE CARS in ONE move!! We can’t even… #BahrainGP #DrivenByEachOther pic.twitter.com/pUHrH2QPZU

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

After a 9th place start, Hamilton moved mountains to get to pole position.

LAP 8/57

Hamilton’s ascent continues as he passes Gasly for P4#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8R3II9AdZg

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2018

The crowd went wild:

@LewisHamilton #LH44 is currently like… @MercedesAMGF1 @TIBCO #BahreinGP #DrivenByEachOther #TIBCOfast pic.twitter.com/OPlwA4tZuR

— Thomas Been (@tombee74) April 8, 2018

Wow!! Crazy start at #BahrainGP. Excellent early over takes by @MercedesAMGF1 @LewisHamilton has nerves of steel! #TIBCO

— Shawn Rogers (@shawnrog) April 8, 2018

Until a grisly pitstop left Ferrari with a badly injured mechanic and sidelined Raikonnen.

LAP 36/57

Awful pitstop for Ferrari
Raikkonen out of the race
Ferrari mechanic receiving treatment#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ppqSYyvIH0

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2018

Hope for a positive update soon, @ScuderiaFerrari ❤️ #BahrainGP https://t.co/Kc9KA6ujNH

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

As the race continued on, Hamilton settled into P3 as Bottas in P2 charged ahead towards Sebastian Vettel in P1.

Wow – @ValtteriBottas has the prize in his sights for @MercedesAMGF1! This one could all come down to careful calculations and tire selection. How will these final laps unfold? #BahrainGP #DrivenByEachOther #TIBCOfast https://t.co/UNKplsc6zy

— TIBCO Software (@TIBCO) April 8, 2018

Tensions were high…

#DrivenByEachOther pic.twitter.com/CGYucm0g4F

— TIBCO Software (@TIBCO) April 8, 2018

It came down to the wire…

TWO LAPS TO GO! He’s right with the Ferrari!!#BahrainGP #DrivenByEachOther

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

LAST LAP!!! PUSH. PUSH!! #BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #DrivenByEachOther

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

But ultimately Vettel and Ferrari were able to hold on to win the race.

@ValtteriBottas! So close!! #BahrainGP #DrivenByEachOther pic.twitter.com/IuubRqTCun

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

With incredibly impressive performances all around, it was another fantastic day of Formula One racing in the books!

Gutting to miss out on the win… but whatever the final result, that was a PROPER @F1 race!! #BahrainGP #DrivenByEachOther pic.twitter.com/YvuE7VwxVj

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 8, 2018

Up next: the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 15!

Learn more about TIBCO’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport that provides the team with a data-driven competitive edge.