Bahrain GP- Race

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Gulf Air Bahrain GP

Race

March 2, 2024

Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory in Bahrain, with Sergio Perez coming in second and Carlos Sainz in third position.

SAKHIR, Bahrain -- Max Verstappen kicked off his pursuit of a fourth consecutive Formula One title in remarkable fashion, triumphing in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finishing in second place.

Verstappen's triumph at the race saw him finish 22.4 seconds ahead of Perez, a significant improvement from his victory margin of just over 10 seconds over Perez at the same event last year.

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari claimed the third spot, finishing just 2.7 seconds behind Perez, but the narrow margin never posed a real challenge to Red Bull's dominant one-two finish.

Following the race, 26-year-old Verstappen expressed his satisfaction, stating that the race "couldn't have gone any better."

"Today exceeded expectations, the car handled superbly," he remarked. "We showcased strong pace on every tyre compound, making it a delightful driving experience. We managed to steer clear of any issues, marking a fantastic start to the season. It truly couldn't have gone any better."

Reflecting on the race, he added, "It was immensely enjoyable; I felt completely in sync with the car. These flawless days are rare, where everything aligns perfectly... you feel at one with the car, and everything just clicks."

Perez mentioned that managing the tires was challenging and there is much to understand before the upcoming race in Jeddah. "I believe we have had a very successful week," he stated. "The race was difficult due to tire management, and there are many lessons to be taken from tonight's race, crucial for the championship. Nevertheless, I consider it a positive start to the season.

"We encountered sliding issues transitioning from one compound to another, along with difficulties in engine braking and reliability, which is particularly tough given the circuit's numerous low-speed corners. However, we will analyze these aspects tonight and apply the knowledge in Jeddah.

"The team has built good momentum, and it is essential to maintain this performance in the upcoming races."

Sainz, who managed to stay within three seconds of Perez, expressed his satisfaction with his performance: "I felt really good out there today. The start wasn't perfect, but I was able to manage my tires well, find my pace, overtake a couple of cars, and even keep up with the Red Bull towards the end, which was a pleasant surprise. While we're still not where we aim to be, it's a positive step forward from last year and a solid start to the season."

Any hope that Verstappen's rivals would challenge him quickly faded as the Dutch driver effortlessly pulled away from the rest of the field after just a few laps.

During the opening lap, Charles Leclerc, who ultimately finished fourth, tried to overtake Verstappen on the outside at the first corner but ran out of space on the corner exit, allowing George Russell's Mercedes to put pressure on him.

Russell managed to pass Leclerc for second place on lap three, but was later overtaken by Perez, who had started fifth on the grid, on lap 14. Leclerc then reclaimed the position from Russell at Turn 10 with 10 laps to go, pushing Russell back to fifth place.

McLaren's Lando Norris secured sixth place, with Lewis Hamilton finishing seventh after reporting to his team early in the race that his seat had broken in the Mercedes cockpit. Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren finished eighth, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the Aston Martins.

The forthcoming race is scheduled to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 9th.

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Bahrain 2024 F1 Race Result

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull (1:31:44.742)

2. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull (+22.457)

3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (+25.110)

4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (+39.669)

5. George Russell, Mercedes (+46.788)

6. Lando Norris, McLaren (+48.458)

7. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (+50.324)

8. Oscar Piastri, McLaren ( (+56.082)

9. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (+1:33.216)

10. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (+1:33.216)

11. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber (+1 Laps)

12. Kevin Magnussen, Haas (+1 Laps)

13. Daniel Ricciardo, RB (+1 Laps)

14. Yuki Tsunoda, RB (+1 Laps)

15. Alexander Albon, Williams (+1 Laps)

16. Nico Hülkenberg, Haas (+1 Laps)

17. Esteban Ocon, Alpine (+1 Laps)

18. Pierre Gasly, Alpine (+1 Laps)

19. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber (+1 Laps)

20. Logan Sargeant, Williams (+2 Laps)