LimitlessDraco3 won the Bahrain E2 race from second on the grid, but the first championship table placed runner-up Rizla at the top. The Mercedes driver scored 32 points to the Red Bull winner's 30.
Rizla had started sixth and recovered four positions. LimitlessDraco3 gained one place to win, while BBLDRiZZY6523 rose from seventh to third for VCARB.
The chequered flag and the table disagree
The two-point difference is precisely why an opening result cannot be read from finishing position alone. LimitlessDraco3 possessed the win; Rizla possessed the larger points haul and the championship lead.
The constructors' order added another wrinkle. Red Bull led VCARB 42-40, while Rizla's Mercedes contribution had not put the team into the leading pair.
A two-point invitation to Monza
Rizla carried the smallest useful cushion to the second round: enough to be the leader, nowhere near enough to dictate the shape of the contest. One place, bonus or missed score could reverse it.
Bahrain's lasting E2 image was therefore a split screen—LimitlessDraco3 on the top step and Rizla on top of the standings. Season 5 had found an early way to make first place complicated.
Career ledger for LimitlessDraco3: win number 1
For LimitlessDraco3, career start 10 gave LimitlessDraco3 a first IMS victory at Bahrain. Through that flag, LimitlessDraco3 had 1 wins, 2 podiums, 0 poles, 0 fastest laps and 89 points across S4, S5. Below, Bahrain stays in LimitlessDraco3's season table.
