Race Notes - Verstappen wins season opener

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen took a flag to flag victory at the season opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix tonight in his Red Bull-Honda.

It was a Red Bull one-two with Sergio Perez finishing second 22.457 seconds behind.

Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari took the final podium position, 26.110 seconds behind the winner.

The win in Verstappen’s 55th career victory.

Charles Leclerc (39.669s) in the second Ferrari finished fourth, followed by George Russell (46.788s) in the Mercedes GP was fifth, Lando Norris (48.458s) in the McLaren-Mercedes was sixth, Lewis Hamilton (50.324s) in the second Mercedes was eighth, Fernando Alonso (1m14.887s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was ninth, and his team mate Lance Stroll (1m33.216s) took the final point in tenth.

As the sun went down and drivers prepared for the first race of the season, Verstappen sat on pole with Leclerc alongside, Russell and Sainz in row 2, Perez and Alonso on row 3, the two McLarens of Norris and Piastri on row 4, and Hamilton and Hulkenberg rounding out the top ten.

Red Bull, with an extra set of new soft tyres might have an advantage going into the race.

All drivers starting on soft tyres.

At the appointed time the drivers set out on the formation lap, lined up on the grid, the lights went off and the race began with Verstappen getting in the lead, Stroll spins after contact with Hulkenberg into the first corner.

Verstappen leads from Leclerc, Russell Perez Sainzm Alonso, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton and Tsunoda,

Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 1.

On lap 3 Norris passes Alonso for sixth, Russell passes Leclerc for second. Verstappen leads be 1.9 seconds.

On lap 5 Piastri passes Alonso for seventh place.

On lap 6 Verstappen has a 4.7s lead on Russell.

On lap 7 Perez passes Leclerc for third place.

On lap 10 Hamilton passes Alonso for eighth.

Logan Sargeant is off track a turn 4, the yellow flag is out, Then gets

On lap 11 Sainz and Leclerc battle, and Sainz takes fourth.

On lap 12 Russell pits from second and rejoins 12th, Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins 14th.

On lap 13 Perez, Piastri, Hamilton, Gasly, and Bottas pit.

On lap 14 Norris and Ricciardo pit.

Perez passes Russell for sixth.

On lap 15 Sainz and Tsunoda pit.

Perez sets fast lap at 1m35.606s,

On lap 16 Alonso and Albon pit.

On lap 17 Sainz passes Leclerc for fourth place.

On lap 18 Verstappen pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins still in the lead.

Sainz is challenging Russell and passes him for third.

Sainz sets fastest lap at 1m35.507s.

On lap 19 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m35.283s.

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Perez by 6.6 seconds, followed by Sainz (9.6s), Russell (12.2s), Leclerc (13.3s), Norris (16.9s), Piastri (19.6s), Hamilton (23.3s), Alonso (30.8s), and Zhou (32.8s) in tenth,

At lap 20 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m35.160s.

Hulkenberg pits for a second tine for hard tyres.

Hamilton tells the team that his seat is broken.

Magnussen and Albon are battling for 13th.

On lap 28 Stroll pits.

On lap 29 Zhou pits.

At lap 30 Verstappen leads Perez by 15,1 seconds, followed by Sainz (17.6s), Russell (26,4s), Leclerc (27.8s), Norris (30.2s), Piastri (34.0s), Hamilton (36.9s), Alonso (48.3s) and Tsunoda (58.0s) in tenth place.

Bottas has a slow pitstop.

On lap 32 Russell pits from fourth for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

Stroll passes Zhou for 13th.

On lap 34 Norris and Hamilton pit for hard tyres.

On lap 34 Leclerc and Piastri pit for hard tyres. Hamilton passes Piastri for eighth.

Tsunoda pits as well.

On lap 36 Sainz pits for hard tyres. Ricciardo pits as well.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m34.476

On lap 37 Perez pits from second for soft tyres.

Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m34.090s.

At lap 38 Verstappen pits from the lead for soft tyres and rejoins still in the lead.

Norris passes Alonso for sixth.

Ricciardo passes Albon for 15th.

On lap 39 Hamilton passes Alonso for seventh.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.608s.

Piastri passes Alonso for eighth.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Perez by 17.2 seconds, followed by Sainz (18.6s), Russell (27.1s), Leclerc (28.0s), Norris (31.2s), Hamilton (36.4s), Piastri (39,7s), Alonso (43.9s), and Stroll (1m00.7s) in tenth place.

On lap 42 Alonso pits for hard tyres and reloinns in 11th.

Leclerc is closing on Russell in fourth.

On lap 44 Alonso passes Zhou for tenth.

On lap 46 Russell locks up and Leclerc passes him for fourth place.

On lap 49 Alonso passes his team mate Stroll for ninth.

At lap 50 Verstappen leads Perez by 18.8 seconds, followed by Sainz (22,9s), Leclerc (34.6s), Russell (37.7s), Norris (40.5s), Hamilton (45.2s), Piastri (49.2s), Alonso (1m13.9s) and Stroll (1n20.3s) in tenth place.

Ricciardo passes Tsunoda for 13th with team orders.

Tsunoda is complaining that Ricciardo isn’t and quicker than him.

At the checkered flag, Verstappen wins over Perez and Sainz.