Mercedes will allow Hamilton and Rosberg to race one another
In a stark contrast to the "Multi 21" saga which caused controversy in 2013, Mercedes made it abundantly clear in Bahrain that they will allow their drivers to go wheel-to-wheel this year, even if it means risking a DNF.
In the aftermath of last season's Malaysian Grand Prix world champion Sebastian Vettel was heavily criticised for overtaking Mark Webber and ignoring Red Bull boss Christian Horner's radio instructions that he remain behind his teammate.
But so far this year there have been no team orders from Mercedes, who have allowed Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to race each other from the offset.
The Silver Arrows dominated the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it could have all gone horribly wrong as their drivers battled for top spot on the podium. Despite their close combat, both drivers shepherded their cars safely to the checkered flag, and were praised by the German team's pair of executive directors.
When questioned about their policy of allowing their drivers to compete with one another, Paddy Lowe said: "There's no reason not to do it."
And his partner Toto Wolff added: "It's great watching two drivers of that level racing fair and square. Not risking the other car and still delivering a mega-show - it doesn't get any better advertising for F1 in a moment when lots of people were talking F1 down.
"You need the drivers to know that it is important not to risk the image of such a brand. We are representing a big brand and they need to know what to do, and they did it in a fantastic and spectacular way."
Ferrari and McLaren still have a lot of work to do
Many expected Ferrari and McLaren's fortunes to improve this season following some positive pre-season testing, but Bahrain highlighted that both teams still have a long way to go before they will be competing for race wins.
Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen were lucky to finish in the top ten, taking ninth and tenth respectively, while the McLarens of both Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button were forced to retire with clutch problems.
Button had been on course to pick up some good points in his landmark 250th grand prix, but suffered problems after the late safety car, dropping down the field from fifth place and eventually bringing his car to a halt.
Team principle Eric Boullier said: "We're leaving Bahrain bitterly disappointed. We didn't have the fastest car this weekend, we know that, but, had our cards not both been afflicted with cluth problems towards the end of the race triggering their retirements at least we'd have been leaving with some more championship points."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso said of his team's performance: "Although we did all we could, we can't be happy with our level of performance and now our sole focus must be on working day and night. The season is in its early stages and we can stage a recovery. We have the resources and the potential to do it, and it's all down to us."
Ricciardo poses a genuine threat to Vettel at Red Bull
If world champion Sebastian Vettel thought that Mark Webber's retirement from Formula One would make his life at Red Bull any easier, then he can think again.
Australian novice Daniel Ricciardo has arguably already proven himself this season after taking a podium finish at his home grand prix on the opening weekend of the season.
But following his subsequent disqualification as a result of a fuel flow irregularity, Ricciardo suffered a disastrous Malaysian Grand Prix. The Aussie had problems in the pit lane when his team released him from his second stop with a loose wheel.
Although his car was recovered by the Red Bull mechanics and sent on its way again, the damage had already been done and he eventually retired from the race, and was handed a ten-place grid penalty for an unsafe release.
Consequently Ricciardo was demoted to 13th on the grid in Bahrain after qualifying in an impressive third, while teammate Vettel was unable to progress from Q2. And while the German progressed in the race to finish sixth, he was outshone by the Australian who battled through the field to fourth.
On lap 16 Red Bull ordered Vettel - who was suffering from a DRS failure - to allow the faster Ricciardo to pass him, and he duly obliged.
Ricciardo then outmuscled the 2013 world champion in the latter stages of the race. Afterwards he said: "It was good fun to race Sebastian. It was hard but fair and we left each other room. That's what we want from each other and we discussed it beforehand - we're racers and that's what we enjoy doing.
Formula One is still dangerous
Esteban Gutierrez's scary collision with Pastor Maldonado once again underlined the dangers that F1 drivers face every time they step into the cockpit. The Mexican driver's Sauber was flipped upside down as he entered turn one by the Lotus of Maldonado who was exiting the pit lane.
Gutierrez was unharmed by the incident, but seemed somewhat surprised by Maldonado's presence. He was heard on the team radio moments after the crash asking, "What was that?"
Maldonado has since been handed a five-place grid drop for the next race in China.
After the race he said: "We will need to have a look again at what happened as Esteban seemed to be off his line coming into turn one - maybe he missed his braking point, I don't know - and by then I was in the corner with nowhere to go. It's good he jumped straight out of the car."
The collision will raise concerns that the new low nose cones adopted by the sport this year could potentially cause similar incidents in the future.
Formula One is still exciting
After concerns ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix that this year's F1 had produced a lack of action, those worries were put to bed with some fantastic wheel-to-wheel racing.
Before the grand prix both F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo had suggested that the new efficiency-based rules were the primary reason for dull racing so far this season.
Montezemolo said: "The driver has to save tyres, save fuel, this is not F1. F1 is extreme from first to last. It is the engine music and not too complicated rules. We cannot have an F1 that is an energy/fuel economy formula. The public doesn't like a taxi driver that has to respect the fuel - this is not F1.
But with the amount of close racing that took place in Bahrain - particularly between teammates - it is clear the Formula One still has a great deal of excitement to offer.