SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — New period, yet another victory. Max Verstappen won the time-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from pole place on Sunday, major just about the complete race as he opened the defense of his back again-to-back System A person titles.
Red Bull also clinched a dominant 1-2 with Sergio Perez ending 2nd even though 41-calendar year-old Fernando Alonso took a fantastic third location — and claimed a 99th occupation podium — on a stunning race debut for Aston Martin.
“I’m so happy of you men,” a jubilant Alonso informed his group.
It was Verstappen’s 36th profession get but the Dutchman’s 1st at the flood-lit Sakhir circuit, where by he retired just laps from the conclude in past year’s opening race.
“That was accurately the commence to the time we required,” Verstappen said.
This time it was Charles Leclerc, after winning previous yr, who retired on Lap 41 of 57 when his Ferrari lost electric power.
“No, no, no, no,” pleaded Leclerc around his radio as his automobile slowed to a end. Ferrari experienced altered an motor battery right before the race but that didn’t end Leclerc from making a dismal start to the year after these a discouraging period in 2022.
“There was just no much more energy. It’s a pity for the reason that it’s at these weekends where by you have to maximize details,” Leclerc stated. “Sad to say we have taken a move back and Crimson Bull’s on a different planet. Third was the finest we could hope for.”
Leclerc’s retirement induced panic at Ferrari, and Carlos Sainz Jr. did not even bother attempting to defend from Alonso — most likely through worry he could eliminate energy himself — and Aston Martin overtook him with 11 laps remaining.
Sainz finished fourth in advance of seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in fifth location forward of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in sixth. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell was seventh for Mercedes.
Verstappen started out from the pole with Perez together with him. Leclerc and Sainz had been on the 2nd row with the 41-year-aged Alonso going from fifth.
Logan Sargeant, the very first American driver on the grid due to the fact 2015, was 12th right after starting off from 16th.
Stroll’s efficiency was impressive thinking about he missed preseason tests due to the fact of an harm picked up in a bicycle accident that needed slight surgical procedure on his proper wrist.
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