BAHRAIN. Sakhir: Max Verstappen started the new season with a brilliant win at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix. Sergio Perez, his teammate from Red Bull captured the second position while Fernando Alonso of Team Aston Martin secured his first podium this season.
Alonso overtook Carlos Sainz of Ferrari on Lap 45 who settled for fourth just ahead of Sir Lewis Hamilton. Sainz’s teammate, Leclerc had to retire on Lap 41 due to an engine issue. Mercedes’s George Russell finished seventh just ahead of Valtteri Bottas’s for Alfa Romeo, while Pierre Gasly recovered from P20 for Alpine, to finish ninth. Alex Albon finished 10th for Williams.
“I am 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”, said Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
“It’s a perfect start for this project. We didn’t expect to be that competitive. I think the aim in 2023 was to get in the mix with the midfield, maybe leading that midfield and get close to the top three teams eventually,” said Fernando Alonso of Team Aston Martin.
The Bahrain Grand Prix results: Top 5
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) Time: 1:33:56.736s Points: 25
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) Time: +11.987s Points: 18
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) Time: +38.637s Points: 15
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) Time: +48.052s Points: 12
- Sir Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) Time: +50.977s Points: 10
The Driver’s standings after the Bahrain Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 25 PTS
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) 18 PTS
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 15 PTS
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 12 PTS
- Sir Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 10 PTS
The Constructors standings after the Bahrain Grand Prix
- Red Bull Racing, 43 PTS
- Aston Martin, 23 PTS
- Mercedes, 16 PTS
Bahrain Grand Prix and Bahrain International Circuit
Located in Sakhir, the 5.412 km Bahrain International Circuit features, five FIA certified track layouts. Built at a cost of approximately $150 million, the Bahrain International Circuit became the first-ever track in the Middle East to host the FIA Formula One World Championship on April 4, 2004 fulfilling the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Circuit was designed by noted architect, Hermann Tilke and offers several challenges to the drivers.
Coming next in the Formula 1 season for 2023 is the STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 scheduled from March 17 to 19, 2023, at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Also Read: F1 Resumes Business: Verstappen Secures Pole Position for Bahrain Grand Prix
