Verstappen dominates season-opening Bahrain GP with commanding win
SAKHIR, Bahrain — Max Verstappen made a flawless start to his title defence with a dominant victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, leading a Red Bull one-two finish and securing his 55th career win.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen maintained his lead from the start and controlled the race over 57 laps, ultimately finishing 22 seconds ahead of teammate Sergio Perez. "A perfect way to begin the season," said Verstappen in parc ferme, as he aims for a fourth consecutive world championship.
Perez recovered from a lackluster qualifying to secure second place, ensuring a strong start to the season for Red Bull. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz took the final podium spot after an intense battle with Charles Leclerc, who faced significant tyre degradation and multiple lock-ups, finishing fourth.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton dealt with battery issues throughout the race. Hamilton also reported a broken seat, which hampered his efforts, leaving him seventh behind McLaren's Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri made it two McLarens in the top ten, finishing eighth. Aston Martin also enjoyed a double points finish with Fernando Alonso in ninth and Lance Stroll in tenth, despite Stroll's early woes after being spun at Turn 1.
Zhou Guanyu narrowly missed out on points in 11th, utilizing an alternate tyre strategy. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen finished 12th, followed by the two Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. A team order directed Tsunoda to concede his position to Ricciardo, prompting an exasperated "are you kidding me?" over the radio.
Williams had a tough season opener with Alex Albon finishing 15th due to a mid-race cooling issue, while Logan Sargeant completed the race in 20th following a steering problem. Nico Hulkenberg experienced a problematic race as well, dropping to 16th after a first lap incident with Stroll.
Alpine's difficulties persisted, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing 17th and 18th respectively. Valtteri Bottas ended 19th, suffering from a lengthy pit stop due to wheel nut issues.
As the F1 paddock moves to Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia for the next round, teams will analyze the Bahrain data, seeking improvements. For now, Verstappen and Red Bull have set a formidable pace, sending a clear message to their competitors.
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