Bahrain GP: Max Verstappen Gets Off To Winning Season Opener

 

Max Verstappen has once again got off to a good start to the new season, claiming a dominant victory of the opening Grand Prix for a one-two finish for Red Bull in Bahrain. 

The three-time champion also won the pole at the qualifying session, and at the final, set the fastest lap on his final lap to be given an extra point (1) which brough the total to 26 points. Following the race winner in the second place was his teammate, Sergio Perez.

Lewis Hamilton, who is on his last season with Mercedes, didn't have the start he might have wanted. He finished seventh behind his teammate, George Russell (5). Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, who started in P2, dropped down the standings and later moved up, edged out Russell at Turn 11 of Lap 46 after the Briton ran wide coming out of the corner and went on to finish fourth. 

Leclerc initially put up a good showdown with Verstappen coming off the grid. He could not get past for a provisional pole before the Red Bull driver built up pace and comfortably led the race on. Leclerc gradually dropped behind as Perez and his teammate, Carlos Sainz sped past him to finish second and third respectively. 

Valterri Bottas had an abrupt end to his race when he pitted for new tyres and spent over 30 seconds in the pit as the crew struggled to get the right tyres on. 

McLaren's Lando Norris was another contender on the track to finish in the top 10 - he finished sixth. He only moved a place up from P7 to finish sixth.