Feature

7 Mar 2023

9 TikToks you will sacrifice sleep for from the Bahrain GP

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From the unanswered questions and meticulous preparations to the wheel-to-wheel action and your incredible reactions. These are the TikToks that you should watch from an unforgettable Bahrain Grand Prix.

Formula One roared back into life at the weekend and it wasn’t just the track where you could feel the energy.

TikTok has fast become a go-to place for captivating F1 content, a place for fans to share their passion and creativity through short-form video – a place to co-create the story.

At the start of our F1 journey, we launched I / AM, our campaign encouraging you, our fans to bring your thing and have a voice – and you’re taking to TikTok to do so.

You're telling our story and the latest chapter, the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, was no exception. Our new F1 car competing for the first time, a memorable podium for Fernando Alonso on his AMF1 race debut, and a courageous points-scoring performance from Lance Stroll meant there were no shortage of scintillating storylines in Sakhir.

Here are the TikToks from an unforgettable weekend that you should be watching…

1 | The big question

"Do we think this is going to be higher up the grid this year?"

Posted shortly after the covers came off our 2023 challenger, TikTok's algorithms served up @f1lizzie's AMR23 comparison in our 'For You' feed as we embarked on the season opener.

The product of months of hard work from everyone in the team, the AMR23 is a significant evolution of its predecessor and an encouraging pre-season test suggested we had taken a step forward with the car. But, how much of a step compared to our competitors would only be revealed at the Bahrain Grand Prix...

2 | The times

For those who laid eyes on the free practice times after Friday's running, the timing sheets confirmed the pre-season promise. With differing fuel loads, engine modes and track conditions to consider, free practice rarely gives a completely accurate picture of the competitive order, but Fernando setting the fastest time of the day with Lance not far behind was a welcome sight for AMF1 fans.

3 | The setup

It's not just the teams and drivers that are busy preparing for the new season over the winter, it’s a crucial period for many fans to perfect and hone their F1 viewing setups for the season ahead. With a record-breaking 23-race calendar, including six F1 Sprint events, a perfect viewing experience has never been more important.

@simenoyen has a setup that wouldn’t look out of place in AMF1 mission control, allowing them to watch all 20 driver onboards, follow track map and timing data and watch the main TV feed – all at the same time. In the words of Sky Sports, it’s only live once…

4 | The look

With the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place under the Arabian night sky among the sand dunes of Sakhir, the kaleidoscope of colour that is the F1 grid was a feast for the eyes beneath the floodlights. Every F1 car has its charms but, as @rberacing points out, there’s something special about that iconic Aston Martin green when it’s on the track.

5 | The overtake

We've replayed Fernando’s overtake to snatch third from Carlos Sainz in the closing stages of the race more times that we can count, but we've also watched @f1.woody's reaction video almost as many times.

The hands fused together in prayer, the voice reduced to little more than a whisper after almost an hour and half of screaming at the television screen, the expressions of disbelief mixed with pure jubilation – these are all the hallmarks of someone who’s lived every second of an absorbing Grand Prix.

6 | The celebration

AMF1's second podium and Fernando's first with the team. The Spaniard described his debut AMF1 race weekend and podium as "unreal" and you can't help but watch this video over and over again in an attempt to savour the moment.

7 | The new TikToker

TikTok has a global userbase of more than one million and that includes Fernando after he joined last month. He's eager to use the platform to share his passion with fans and shortly after his Bahrain Grand Prix podium celebrations he shared this message.

8 | The hard-earned P6

Courage (noun) – mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

After sustaining injuries in a cycling accident just two weeks before the season opener, Lance was focused on one thing: racing at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite missing the entirety of pre-season testing, he pushed through the pain to be on the grid. Taking part in the opening round was an achievement, but to be competitive after such challenging two weeks was testament to Canadian's fortitude.

After the race, Fernando described Lance as a "hero" and, while Lance's sights are firmly set on competing at the front, there are unlikely to be many finer or hard-earned sixth place finishes than his in Bahrain.

9 | The passion

Our passion for F1 is what unites us and its something that should be celebrated. Whether we're able to watch the race in the same place as fellow fans or connect with each other and join in the conversation on social, watching F1 is a shared experience. Fans are the lifeblood of this sport and @jamnawanza's video showcases the power of the sport to connect us. The highs, the lows, and everything in between, our beloved sport conjures emotions within us like few others can.

Next up is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 17-19 March; make sure you follow @AstonMartinF1 and co-create our story by sharing your videos on TikTok throughout the season as we continue our journey.

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