Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after successful the Bahrain Grand Prix.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
New season, one other victory. Max Verstappen gained the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from pole place on Sunday, main nearly all the race as he opened the protection of his back-to-back Formula One titles.
Red Bull additionally clinched a dominant 1-2 with Sergio Perez ending second whereas 41-year-old Fernando Alonso took a superb third place — and claimed a 99th profession podium — on a surprising race debut for Aston Martin.
“I’m so proud of you guys,” a jubilant Alonso instructed his group.
It was Verstappen’s thirty sixth profession win however the Dutchman’s first on the flood-lit Sakhir circuit, the place he retired simply laps from the tip in final yr’s opening race.
“That was exactly the start to the season we needed,” Verstappen mentioned.
This time it was Charles Leclerc, after successful final yr, who retired on Lap 41 of 57 when his Ferrari misplaced energy.
“No, no, no, no,” pleaded Leclerc over his radio as his automobile slowed to a cease. Ferrari had modified an engine battery earlier than the race however that didn’t cease Leclerc from making a dismal begin to the yr after such a irritating season in 2022.
“There was just no more power. It’s a pity because it’s at these weekends where you have to maximize points,” Leclerc mentioned. “Unfortunately we’ve taken a step back and Red Bull’s on another planet. Third was the best we could hope for.”
Leclerc’s retirement brought about panic at Ferrari, and Carlos Sainz Jr. didn’t even trouble making an attempt to defend from Alonso — in all probability by means of concern he would possibly lose energy himself — and Aston Martin overtook him with 11 laps left.
Sainz completed fourth forward of seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in fifth place forward of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in sixth. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell was seventh for Mercedes.
Verstappen began from the pole with Perez alongside him. Leclerc and Sainz have been on the second row with the 41-year-old Alonso going from fifth.
Logan Sargeant, the primary American driver on the grid since 2015, was twelfth after ranging from sixteenth.
Stroll’s efficiency was spectacular contemplating he missed preseason testing due to an harm picked up in a bicycle accident that required minor surgical procedure on his proper wrist.
