Netflix's Drive To Survive has brought a whole new generation of fans to Formula 1, and while some purists are a bit unhappy with the way some things are portrayed in the show, you could see its effect ahead of the opening grand prix of the 2022 season.
After an incredible finish to last season's championship and with the latest series of the show having only hit our screens last week, this felt like the most anticipated opening race in quite some time.
It certainly lived up to the billing, with Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz taking the top two positions on the back of some spectacular late mechanical failures from Red Bull.
That was far from the only story of the day, however.
Haas, who did not earn a single point in the 2021 season, would finish fifth in the race via Kevin Magnussen to get their season off to a strong start. The Dane, who had not raced in Formula 1 since 2020, only rejoined the team in recent weeks after the departure of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin.
Of course, this meant it was quite the day for perhaps the biggest star of Drive To Survive.
Nobody has won more hearts on the show than Guenther Steiner, the Haas team manager who has jumped off the screen in each of the four seasons released so far.
Considering the team's struggles over the last couple of years, he has been fairly put through the ringer in front of the cameras, providing some incredible moments as a result.
He was in a much more jovial mood this afternoon.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Guenther Steiner summed up how far the team had come in recent months.
"When you think he didn't drive an F1 car for 14 months."
Guenther Steiner was full of praise for Kevin Magnussen on his return to #F1 after the Haas driver finished fifth at the #BahrainGP 👏 pic.twitter.com/X17Q3ua7fG— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 20, 2022
If you think about the last two years, and then coming back like this, you cannot write a story like this in my opinion...
Kevin did a fantastic job. A comeback like this, I don't think he could have dreamt about it. These things happen in life, a month ago we were in a completely different scenario and now we are fifth...
He knows how to drive a car. There is a reason we got him back, we want a little bit of credit for that as well!
When we knew we needed another driver, I think it was the right choice to make. He has come back and is full of energy.
You must think, he didn't drive an F1 car for 14 months so it's even more spectacular. Could you imagine if he had just come out of it last year, we would be on the podium!
What a man.
While Ferrari may steal the headlines, a lot of people were very pleased to see Guenther Steiner and Haas back in among the points.
Fair play to Ferrari, but there's only one man you should be happy for after that race. #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/5Sxp8NiItQ
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 20, 2022
Kevin Magnussen best of the rest and P5 for Haas #BahrainGP #WTF1 pic.twitter.com/kEUPYXvYzZ
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) March 20, 2022
HAAS P5 GUENTHER TELLING THE STREETS THAT WE BACK UP pic.twitter.com/WcLxp46yfI
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) March 20, 2022
Somebody get Guenther Steiner in front of a camera and inject it into my veins.
KMag 5th and Mick 11th?!?
Smash all the doors! #BahrainGP @HaasF1Team pic.twitter.com/HX6vNmZ1Qd— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 20, 2022
While this is only the first event of a 23-race calendar, Haas will be hoping that it is the start of a very good year for the team.
SEE ALSO: The 7 Burning Questions We Have Ahead Of The 2022 F1 Season Opener
