Max Verstappen was unbeatable. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

New year, old song: Verstappen humiliates the competition

Max Verstappen humiliated the competition with a show of force right at the start of the new Formula 1 season.

March 02, 2024

From: dpa/det

The defending champion and three-time world champion continued where he left off 97 days after last season's finale: with a clear victory and the fastest lap of the race.

The Dutchman raced to his 33th career victory on Saturday evening in Sakhir, unimpressed by the fuss surrounding his team boss Christian Horner, after the 55rd pole at the Bahrain Grand Prix. In second place in a floodlit bore, Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez was 22,457 seconds behind.

Hamilton follows behind

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz came third ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Scuderia's second car, whose hopes of winning their first title since Kimi Räikkönen's triumph in 2007 were immediately set back. Sainz's designated successor, record world champion Lewis Hamilton, had also hoped for more from the new Mercedes. We couldn't do better than seventh place.

Lewis Hamilton (left) in conversation with Charles Leclerc. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

For Verstappen at the front, the first race start of the year went exactly to the champion's liking. He got away quickly and defended the pole during Leclerc's tentative attack from the outside in the first corner. After the first ten kilometers of the 24-race season, the longest in the history of the premier motorsport class since 1950, Verstappen was already leading by one and a half seconds.

Behind him, Hamilton's Mercedes colleague George Russell grabbed the Monegasque Leclerc, who drove faster than Verstappen on his pole lap in the second period of qualifying the day before. However, the 26-year-old, who extended his long-term contract with Scuderia before the season, repeatedly made minor mistakes.

Final score of the race

1. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull Racing 1:31:44,742
2. Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing +22,457
3. Carlos Sainz (ESP) Ferrari +25,110
4. Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari +39,669
5. George Russell (GBR) Mercedes +46,788
6. Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren +48,458
7. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes +50,324
8. Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren +56,082
9. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin Aramco +1:14,887
10. Lance Stroll (CAN) Aston Martin Aramco +1:33,216