F1’s three kings are at it again.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen are probably the three most dominating drivers in F1 the past few years.

On Sunday, they resume their rivalry with respective podium finishes in Bahrain.

Yes baby, the F1 Season has officially begun.

Ferrari, after coming off a very disappointing season, (ugh!) came out of the gates with a lot of promise as the red scarlet earned No.1 and No.2 positions at the starting grid with ace driver Michael Schumacher and new teammate Felipe Massa, respectively.

Schumi led away at the start, being chased by teammate Felipe Massa reminiscent of the way ex-Ferrari driver, Rubens Barrichello played second-fiddle to the popular German.

However, a pit-stop strategy proved to be the key for Team Renault as Fernando Alonso, the defending F1 Spanish Champion, made his pit-stop at lap 39 after letting Schumi made his in lap 36.

Alonso and Schumacher went side-by-side when the Spaniard’s F1 car zoomed out of the pit lane. In the end, it was Fernando Alonso who successfully defended the position, going inside as the scarlet red Ferrari went wide.

Kimi Raikkonen was a different story entirely. After losing one of his rear tires in qualifying that landed him at the very end of the pack in the starting grid, Kimi battled his way through with an improbable one pit-stop strategy that earned him the last podium spot behind only to Michael Schumacher’s second-best finish.

Into third place, from the back of the grid, came Kimi Raikkonen, who started his McLaren with a full tank and didn’t stop until lap 30, by which time he had risen to third place.

That clever bit of strategy from the Woking team earned him the final podium place as the previous incumbent of the position, Jenson Button, could only chase the Finn home but never really got close enough to mount a convincing challenge in the Honda. - The Official Formula 1 Website

Alas, the day belong to the Spaniard, Fernando Alonso as he earned his first grand prix win in Bahrain this year. Formula One is already at full throttle and there are a lot of races left to wage war on.

[Bodog has the odds on who’ll win the Formula 1 championship. Can Fernando Alonso fuel a repeat or will Michael Schumacher reclaim what was once his? Log on to Bodog and find out.]