From the start of the season, the Red Bulls were on another planet. Fastest time in practice, reigning double world champion Max Verstappen won with a comfortable lead ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in the Bahrain heat. The Dutchman had never won on the Sakhir circuit before, finishing second in 2020 and 2021. An anomaly repaired after this real demonstration for the 36th victory of his career. “The season couldn’t have started better, I was able to widen the gap during the first stint, after which we had to manage the tires”, emphasizes Verstappen, whose team has already set the bar very high, crushing the competition.
Behind the Red Bull duo, the fight for the podium was heated. Long third, the Monegasque Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, had to retire on the 43rd lap. It was the double world champion Fernando Alonso who was rewarded for his magnificent race at the wheel of his Aston Martin by finishing 3rd. His battle with Lewis Hamilton was one of the highlights of this first race of the year. “It’s incredible for the team, it’s surreal to have the second car on the circuit from the first race. I hope people liked it, I liked it, ”smiles Alonso, 41, who beat Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 4th and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 5th.
On the Alpine side, the two Frenchmen Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon had opposite destinies. Starting in the back row, Gasly went for a 9th place to get into the points. Ocon himself had a real hard day, picking up three penalties before retiring on the 43rd lap.