18:40 – Red Bull and Verstappen in demonstration, the summary of the race
Winter testing and the start of the weekend had hinted at the potential for dominance. This materialized in the race and the Red Bulls reigned supreme on the Sakhir circuit to sign a double which already raises fears that 2023 will only be a long one-man race. Obviously the season is just beginning and many adventures still await F1 drivers but seeing Max Verstappen hovering as he did in the race does not bode well for the competition. The latter will only have seen him at the start, the time to see the double world champion set off perfectly and take advantage of a clear track to take off. Wearing soft tyres, the Dutchman pressed on his first two stints to create a sufficient gap and manage the following with virtuosity. Unlucky last year when he was forced to retire after an epic duel with Leclerc, betrayed by his car, he had no mechanical problems this time and was able to prepare for his 36th victory, his first in Bahrain. .
If Verstappen started the season as he finished it, Sergio Perez gave his team a perfect weekend by securing second place. Overwhelmed when the lights went out by Leclerc, the Mexican took advantage of the Monegasque’s loss of power and pace to regain his place and finish the race in a wheelchair. A nice revenge compared to last year when the Austrian camp had to digest a double abandonment while Ferrari celebrated its two drivers at the top of the podium. The roles were therefore reversed. Off to a good start with his soft rubber, Leclerc was unable to repeat his 2022 performance and could not even see the checkered flag. Unable to keep pace with the Red Bulls, he was well harnessed in third position but was let go by his engine on the 41st lap. The Scuderia then bet everything on Carlos Sainz Jr who would soon after give up his place on the podium to an unleashed Fernando Alonso.
At the wheel of his Aston Martin, with emerald reflection, the forties showed that he still had some under the pedal. The well-born British confirmed her full potential and demonstrated that she was the second best-performing single-seater on the grid. After a very nice pass of arms with Lewis Hamilton, the double world champion swooped down on his compatriot and showed him how to overtake a driver of his caliber. An outstanding manager of his tyres, he was able to attack at the right time and enhance the good overall work of his team by signing the 99th podium of his career, triggering hysteria among the British, also happy with the 6th place of Lance Stroll , inserted between the two Mercedes of Hamilton (5th) and Russell (7th).
As far as the French are concerned, the premiere of the Ocon-Gasly duo was particularly contrasting. Ninth on the starting line, Ocon multiplied the errors, starting with a bad positioning at the start imposing a penalty of 5 seconds. This was not respected by his mechanics, who wanted to go too fast, penalizing him with another 10 seconds before he was again caught by the marshals for speeding in the pits. It was too much for the Norman who finally abandoned the race. For his part, his compatriot experienced a reverse trajectory. Starting in last position, Gasly showed seriousness and gradually overcame his rivals to finally finish 9th and grab two points. A great comeback which should give cause for hope for the tricolor team, far, far however from Red Bull which in two weeks intends to crush its opponents once again and further undermine their confidence.
6:30 p.m. – Gasly: ”A good race”
For his first race at the wheel of an Alpine, Pierre Gasly wore a radiant smile to return to his ninth place, after climbing 11 places, synonymous with first points. “I’m happy. It’s a really good race, a clean race. I think we did the best we could. We were aggressive. I gave everything at the end to get Bottas but he didn’t miss much (+1”106). We know what to work on and if we start further ahead, we can get bigger points.”said at the microphone of Canal+ the former Alpha Tauri.
18:15 – Ecstatic Alonso
“A first podium for the first race of the season, it’s incredible. Aston Marin has done a great job this winter and it’s surreal to have the second best car on the circuit”reacted first Fernando Alonso who savored his duel won on the track against Carlos Sainz JR and his Ferrari.
18:10 – 99th podium for Alonso
By climbing to third place in Bahrain at the start of the 2023 season, Fernando Alonso showed that he still knew how to drive at 41. The Spaniard signed his 99th podium in F1, his first since that won at the wheel of the Alpine during the Hungarian GP on August 1, 2021.
18:06 – Bahrain Grand Prix classification
Here is the complete classification of the first Grand Prix of the 2023 world championship in Bahrain.
18:00 – Verstappen in gluttony
Already winner for the first Grand Prix of the season, Max Verstappen continues his impressive series. Since last summer, the Dutchman has left only crumbs to his opponents. In the last 12 races contested, the Dutchman has swallowed 10, failing only in Singapore (7th, victory for Sergio Perez) and Brazil (6th, victory for George Russell).
17:57 – Ambitious Perez
“When you look at how we started last season, it’s a very good result”, appreciated Sergio Perez at the microphone of Nico Rsoberg. The Mexican driver then regretted having missed his start, which ruined his chances of contesting victory with his teammate Verstappen and hopes to achieve this later this season.
17:55 – Verstappen: “I had a very good first stint”
“I had a very good first stint where I was able to widen the gap. Afterwards, I just had to manage the tyres. I’m very happy to finally win here”, simply declared Max Verstapppen, relieved at the microphone of Nico Rosberg by this perfectly conducted race. The Dutch double world champion is starting his 2023 season ideally.
17:45 – Premiere for Verstappen
Double reigning world champion and winner of 35 Grand Prix, Max Verstppen had never put his name on the Bahrain prize list. He honored the statistics by ahead of the 9th poleman to win the race on the Sakhir circuit in 19 editions.
5:40 p.m. – Leclerc’s reaction on video
Forced to retire, Charles Leclerc took the time for Canal+ to come back to his setbacks.
17:39 – Alonso on the podium
Under the cheers of his entire team, Fernando Alonso climbs to the podium! Thunderous start to the season for the Spanish forties.
17:38 – Victory for Verstappen!
Leading from start to finish, Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in front and took the first victory of the season. He is ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez.
17:34 – Round 56/57
Nothing seems more able to deprive Verstappen of his first victory in Bahrain. The Red Bull driver begins his last with almost 12 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez.
17:32 – Alonso delights (lap 54/57)
On the radio, Fernando Alonso smiles and says his Aston Martin is a wonderful car to drive. The 41-year-old should be on the podium in less than four laps.
17:30 – Round 53/57
Sainz withstood Hamilton’s pressure well and managed to regain some margin on the Briton. He has five laps to go to secure a fourth place, like his place on the grid at the start.