The first impressions of Formula One racing with a new generation of cars after Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix does seem to suggest that it has been improved with battles up and down the grid.

Of course, Bahrain was only the first race, but the signs are positive, as are what looks like a more mixed-up grid.

The cars have undergone a drastic aerodynamics overhaul. They are designed with a focus on shifting the aerodynamic focus from the wingsto underneath the car, making it easier to follow the car in front, and thus improve racing.

Sunday’s race showed that the overhaul has not only brought Ferrari back into the mix but other teams have also made big strides.

Haas left Bahrain third in the constructors’ championship after Kevin Magnussen, who joined the team only two weeks ago to replace the ousted Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin, finished an impressive fifth.

The team had effectively ignored 2021 and finished last as they threw all their resources into this year’s car and early signs are good for the American team.

Haas are powered by a Ferrari engine and in a clear sign that the Italian marque has got it right, three of the top five teams in the constructors’ championship after the first race are powered by the Scuderia.

At the other end, three of the bottom five teams are powered by Mercedes, which will be of concern to the Brackley team.

One of those teams is McLaren, who lie ninth after a disastrous weekend, with Daniel Ricciardo finishing 14th, just ahead of his team-mate, Lando Norris, in 15th.

Mercedes may have been more reliable in Bahrain but their lack of pace in the race is a concern and neither Lewis Hamilton nor George Russell ever looked like they could stay with the four drivers in front of them.

However, the double retirement of both 2021 champion Max Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez is a big concern for Red Bull, from a problem they had no idea existed before it happened and they now lie bottom of the championship after the first race. They have very little time to turn it around before the next race, in Jeddah on Sunday.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton admitted that his unexpected podium at Bahrain was “fortunate”, but insisted that Mercedes deserved it.

“Every point can make a difference,” Hamilton said. “I have lost world titles by one point, but, while we are not necessarily on a par with the fastest guys, it is a great result. Of course it was fortunate, but ultimately we have done a better job because we had better reliability. So I don’t say it is luck, but hard work.

“It is such a long season and it is going to be a hard battle, but we love a challenge, I love a challenge, and it is a privilege to work with a team that is hungry and focused. There is no better feeling when you come together like this.”

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, described the failure of his cars to finish as “brutal”. “I can’t remember the last time that happened to us, but it’s obviously your worst nightmare, so hugely disappointing,” he said.

Verstappen explained his car’s brakes were overheating early on and then there was a problem with its balance and steering before what finally appeared to be a fuel system issue.

“It was just almost impossible to steer and the faster I was going, it felt also like there was a delay,” he told Sky Sports television. “So every time I was turning right it took a while before something was happening.

“It was very hard out there, a lot of different issues we had to deal with.”

The 24-year-old, who suffered two retirements last season on his way to the title, said the performance was in the car but he had not been able to really show what it could do.

“We already lost a lot of points again in one race weekend so that’s really not good. Of course I know that with one retirement it’s not over but I would have preferred to have at least 18 points,” he added.

It is, however, amply clear that this season has all the ingredients to live up to the one that preceded it.