The Dutchman Max Verstappen, three-time reigning Formula 1 world champion, easily won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, the first round of the season, ahead of his teammate at Red Bull, the Mexican Sergio Pérez. The Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) completes the podium. The other Ferrari, that of Monegasque Charles Leclerc, finished 4th, ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell, 5th.
“We feel in harmony with the car”
“It’s incredible, today went even better than expected,” said Max Verstappen on arrival, who started in pole position for the opening round of the season. “The car felt really good on all the tires, it was really nice to drive, I felt really good in the car. This kind of day is special, when everything is perfect and you feel in harmony with the car” , continued the driver who was more than 20 seconds ahead of Pérez at the finish.
Red Bull and its star driver Verstappen are the huge favorites for this season, the densest in F1 history with 24 Grand Prix planned. Behind the Red Bull rockets and the two SF-24s from Ferrari, the British George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished 5th and 7th respectively for Mercedes, while the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ranked 6th and 8th.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll complete the Top 10 at the wheel of their Aston Martins. As for Alpine, which arrives in Bahrain with a brand new car to try to get back into the leading pack, Esteban Ocon finishes 17th ahead of Pierre Gasly, 18th. The French drivers started from the last two places on the grid.