Verstappen Streaks To Bahrain Victory, Alonso Earns Podium

SAKHIR, Bahrain — Picking up where he left off in 2022, two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen earned the Formula 1 season-opening victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix. 

After earning the pole, Verstappen powered his Oracle Red Bull Racing machine to a stout lead early on as teammate Sergio Perez was left to contend with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. 

However, using a similar soft-tire strategy as his teammate, Perez managed to secure second place, making it a clean 1-2 sweep on the top two steps of the podium. 

“It was a very good first stint where I basically made by gap, and from there onwards, it was all about just looking after my tires, because you never know what is going to happen later in the race,” Verstappen said. “So, we just wanted to make sure that we had the right tires and in good condition as well. Of course, very happy to get my first win here also in Bahrain.

“A big thank you to the team over the winter and what they have done again to give us such a quick race car again.” 

While Verstappen scampered off to a more than 10-second lead, the story of the race came in the latter stages at the Bahrain Int’l Circuit. 

On lap 41, Leclerc was forced to retire with a sudden engine issue. Amidst that sequence, Fernando Alonso powered his Aston Martin past seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to take fifth place. 

With Leclerc out, Alonso vaulted to fourth, setting his sights on the lone Ferrari of Sainz. 

Four laps later, Alonso caught Sainz and passed him, securing the final step of the podium. It was Alonso’s first podium since Quatar in 2021. 

Behind the top three, Saniz settled for fourth, with Hamilton rounding out the top five. 

“We did the best we could today. We are the fourth fastest team right now, and the Ferrari and Aston that we were battling were just quicker than us,” Hamilton said. “It was close for a second with Sainz, but I couldn’t hang on and he just went away in the final laps.

“Big congratulations to Fernando and the whole Aston Martin team too. They did a great job today. It was a fun tussle we had for a moment, but he was too quick.” 

Canadian Lance Stroll competed with a wrist injury in an admirable way, finishing sixth, with Mercedes’ George Russell in seventh. 

Valtteri Bottas gave Alfa Romeo a solid result in eighth, with Pierre Gasly charging from 20th to finish ninth. Earning the final points of the day was Alex Albon for AlphaTauri, who finished 10th. 

Haas F-1 struggled in Sunday’s event, with leading driver Kevin Magnussen finishing 13th, while new teammate Nico Hulkenberg ended the race in 15th.