Vettel wins in Canada, Rosberg and Hamilton crash - GP Blog's alternative season

The season opener

After weeks of anticipation and months of speculation as to how the season will unfold, Formula 1 is back.

After Ferrari dominated for much of pre-season expectations are high for the Scuderia and they kicked off their season in style. After being denied by a classic Mercedes masterclass in qualifying they started fourth and fifth and were expected to watch the Silver Arrows drive off into the sunset.

It couldn't have been more different. As Bottas got a lightning start and pulled alongside Lewis Hamilton into turn one the Finn locked up taking out both drivers and Ferrari capitalised finishing first and second after Verstappen's new Honda engine blew up on lap 46. Carlos Sainz completed the podium on his McLaren debut.

Formula 1 is back!

Leclerc's Bahrain rollercoaster!

In Bahrain Ferrari picked up where they left off, locking out the front row and all looked good until Leclerc who was leading started losing power in the closing stages. All looked lost as he dropped behind the Mercedes. Until the safety car came out...

Leclerc looked as if he'd see out third place but out of nowhere, the safety car brake checks Lewis Hamilton causing the Brit to hit the back of the Mercedes car, with Bottas shunting Hamilton in the back. With debris scattered over the track, a furious Hamilton pulls up alongside the safety car to see none other than Nico Rosberg smirking in the passenger seat with his vlogging camera in hand. 

Hamilton retires from a second consecutive race to the delight of Charles Leclerc who holds on for a maiden F1 win. 

Farewell to the Circuit de Catalunya, hello Zandvoort

The teams arrive in Spain expecting a classicly boring race in Barcelona but to the shock of the F1 world, Chase Carey's moustache takes control and announces Zandvoort will be brought forward a year and replace the Spanish Grand Prix. 

As the team's work through the night to get their setups in Holland ready, Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso (who still thinks he races in F1) announce they are boycotting the race and will not travel instead setting up a peaceful protest on the starting grid of the Circuit de Catalunya. 

Over in the Netherlands Max Verstappen storms to his first win of the season and much to his relief Lewis Hamilton secures his first finish and podium as he came over the line in second. Ferrari have to settle for fourth and fifth as their momentum is slowed following their strong start to the season.

Hamilton rages in Canada, Brundle feels his force

Sebastian Vettel's superior straight-line speed saw him take pole from Lewis Hamilton in Canada and the German looked on for a routine win until lap 48 when he runs wide at turn 3 almost forcing Hamilton into the wall.

After the stewards investigate it, Mattia Binotto gives Vettel the all-clear after it was decided he didn't deserve any punishment. Word eventually reaches Hamilton who tries to hunt the Ferrari man down but to no avail and Vettel wins his second race of the season. 

As the cars pull up behind their finishing sign Hamilton runs over his P2 sign in disgust before he walks over to Martin Brundle who carries out the podium interviews. Brundle asks Hamilton: "What do you think of the steward's decision Lewis?"

Lewis outraged by the Sky presenter's question stares deep into his eyes before shoving the camera out of his face and storms off into the Mercedes garage. 

The stewards give Lewis a five-second stop and go penalty for the incident on the podium and he later apologises admitting "it was out of character".

Gasly's revenge

After retiring at his home Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly is released by Red Bull who replace him with none other than Fernando Alonso. However, a week later Daniel Ricciardo admitted he made a mistake joining the French team, he's let go, giving Gasly a chance at Renault and the constructor their French driver. He announces himself with a video on Twitter of him saying: "I'm back". You were never really gone, Pierre.

After a sunny weekend at Monza Gasly starts 12th for the race but after Bottas, Leclerc and Vettel all suffer race-ending spins Gasly is up to second with just five laps remaining. On fresher tyres, Gasly hunts his former teammate down, Verstappen. Gasly shows his overtaking prowess to force his way in front of Verstappen who spins out under no pressure what so ever. 

Pierre eventually locks up on the last lap allowing Hamilton to finish first but Gasly gives Helmut Marko some choice words on the podium, much to the shock of GP Blog driver George Russell who finished third amongst all the carnage. Williams are still waiting for their car to arrive in Spain for pre-season testing, allowing GP Blog to take advantage of the space on the grid.

What can we expect in the second half of the season?

Unfortunately, we aren't actually blessed with this much drama but what happens in your alternate universe? Let us know in the comments below!