Verstappen dominates the season opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix 2024

Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024/Red Bull Content Pool

SAKHIR, Bahrain -- Dutch driver Max Verstappen began the 2024 Formula 1 season with a commanding victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, showcasing his dominance from the start. The reigning champion led from pole position, quickly establishing a significant lead and never looking back, ultimately finishing ahead of his nearest rival, teammate Sergio Perez.

Check out the results of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, including the race results, qualifying times, and practice sessions

Verstappen, in his Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT, completed the race in a time of 1:31:44.742 after 57 laps, displaying remarkable pace and control.

Verstappen said in interview afterwards that the race "couldn't have been better."

"Today went even better than expected, the car was really nice to drive," he said.

"On every [tyre] compound I think we had a lot of pace and it was super enjoyable to drive today we stayed out of trouble and a great start of the year. Couldn't have been better."

"It was a lot of fun, I felt really good in the car. It's always very special to have these days because they don't happen often that it just all goes perfect ... you are at one with the car and everything feels great," Verstappen added.

His teammate, Sergio Perez, also piloting a Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT, crossed the finish line 22.457 seconds after Verstappen. Perez couldn't quite match Verstappen's dominating performance but still ensured a strong finish for the team with a significant gap to the rest of the field.

The race began with a thrilling battle as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc challenged Verstappen at the start. However, Verstappen quickly pulled away, creating a gap that continued to widen as the race progressed. Perez, meanwhile, executed a series of skillful maneuvers, including a critical pass on Leclerc on lap seven, to secure second place.

Perez later noted that tyre management was challenging but viewed it as a key learning experience for the upcoming race in Jeddah. He described the recent race as a maximum effort to start the season strongly, despite issues with tyre sliding and engine braking. He stressed the importance of analyzing the race to improve performance and maintain team momentum for future contests.

"It was quite a tricky race with management of the tyres there is plenty we will learn from tonight's race which is important for the championship but overall, I think it's a great way to start the season." he said.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz displayed a strong performance, securing the final podium position. Sainz managed to overtake Leclerc and fend off challenges from Mercedes' George Russell, who experienced overheating issues that hampered his race. Leclerc eventually finished fourth, ahead of Russell, who rounded out the top five.

Sainz, who showed some great race pace, said: "I felt really good out there today.”

"The start wasn't ideal but from then on I managed my tyres well and then from there I could do my pace and overtook two or three cars on the way to the podium and then keeping up with the Red Bull there at the end which was a pleasant surprise. It's still not enough, where we want to be, but a good step forward compared to last year and a solid start to the season." Sainz added.

Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging race, struggling with technical issues, including a broken race seat and battery problems. Despite these setbacks, Hamilton managed to climb from his ninth-place starting position to finish seventh, overtaking McLaren's Oscar Piastri in the final stages.

Lando Norris secured sixth position for McLaren ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Both Lando Norris and Piastri showcased their potential, finishing sixth and eighth respectively. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who had a surprising sixth-place in qualifying, could not replicate his pace during the race and finished ninth, over 20 seconds adrift of Piastri. His teammate, Lance Stroll, completed the top ten after recovering from an early incident.

Drivers outside the top ten, representing teams like Haas, RB, Alpine, Kick Sauber and Williams, finished the race without scoring points, despite their efforts to challenge the front-runners.

The Bahrain Grand Prix highlighted Verstappen's superiority and Red Bull's strength, setting a high bar for the season. With both Red Bull drivers on the podium, the team has made a clear statement of intent for the 2024 championship.

The next race is in Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 9.

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