MANAMA — Formula One world champion Max Verstappen eased to a dominant win at the Bahrain GP as Red Bull left their competition behind to start the 2023 Formula 1 season, while Fernando Alonso dazzled to take a well-earned podium for Aston Martin.
Verstappen’s cruise from pole position, with Perez taking the chequered flag 11.9 seconds behind, was his first win in Bahrain and also the first time the double champion had triumphed in the opening race of a campaign.
Verstappen, aiming for a third straight world title this year, won his first-ever season-opener at a canter after holding his pole position at the start and then racing away, with favourites Red Bull enjoying a dream one-two.
“It was a very good first stint where I basically made my gap,” Verstappen told Sky Sports in his post-race interview.
“From there it was just about looking after the tires because you never know what is going to happen later in the race, so we just wanted to make sure that we had the right tires and in good condition as well. I was also very happy to finally win here in Bahrain.
“I think we have a good race package, of course it will depend a bit race to race but we can definitely fight with this. Also a big thank you to the team, what they’ve done over the winter to give us such a quick race car again.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was running in third place when he slowed and pulled over 17 laps from the end, shouting “No, no, no! No power” over the team radio.
Veteran double world champion Fernando Alonso then passed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari with a thrilling wheel-to-wheel move 12 laps from the end to secure the final place on the podium for Aston Martin.
Alonso, having already brilliantly passed the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, the second with a glorious move to catch his fellow multi-world champion off guard, then charged past Spanish compatriot Carlos Sainz on Lap 46 of 57, albeit after some slight contact with the Ferrari.
While not fighting Red Bull, it was a fantastic recovery from surprise 2023 contenders Aston Martin, with Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll having lost positions and made contact on the opening lap.
Stroll, racing a week after surgery on his wrist, also beat a Mercedes after overtaking Russell.
Valtteri Bottas was ‘best of the rest’ for Alfa Romeo ahead of Pierre Gasly in the Alpine and the impressive Alex Albon for Williams.
Gasly had a much better evening than new team-mate Esteban Ocon, who received three separate penalties in Bahrain – one for an incorrect grid position, one for not serving his first penalty correctly and another for speeding in the pit lane – before, well out of contention, retiring from the race.
McLaren debutant Oscar Piastri also would not finish the opener, while team-mate Lando Norris was plum last on a nightmare start for the famous Woking team.
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