Bahrain Grand Prix 2010 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Fernando Alonso launched his 2010 championship campaign in perfect fashion with a dominant victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, leading home teammate Felipe Massa for Ferrari's first one-two finish since the 2008 French Grand Prix. The Spaniard controlled the race from start to finish at the Sakhir circuit, signaling Ferrari's return to competitiveness after a disappointing 2009 season and establishing himself as an early title favorite in what would become one of Formula 1's most dramatic championship battles.

Starting from second on the grid behind Sebastian Vettel's pole position, Alonso made a brilliant start to seize the lead into Turn 1, demonstrating the aggressive racecraft that would define his season. The Ferrari F10, while not the fastest car on the grid, proved race-worthy under Bahrain's floodlights, and Alonso managed his pace expertly throughout the 49 laps. Massa provided perfect support in second place, ensuring Ferrari maximized their points haul on the opening weekend. Lewis Hamilton salvaged third place for McLaren despite the MP4-25 showing promising pace, while Vettel's Red Bull RB6 suffered the reliability issues that would plague the Austrian team throughout the season, retiring from a comfortable lead.

The race marked the beginning of F1's new era without refueling, fundamentally changing race strategy and placing greater emphasis on tire management. The debut of the three new teams - HRT, Virgin, and Lotus - added intrigue, though all struggled at the back of the grid. Alonso's victory, combined with strong performances from multiple teams, suggested 2010 would deliver the competitive season fans craved. The Spaniard's 25 points gave him an early championship lead, though few could have predicted the incredible four-way title fight that would ensue, ultimately decided by the smallest of margins in Abu Dhabi nine months later.