2023 Formula 1 at Bahrain Grand Prix: Red Bull Racing land 1-2 to start the season right where it left off

Ferrari and Mercedes have some work to do as Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez take the top two steps on the podium for Red Bull

Red Bull Racing has put the rest of the field on notice that they have no intention of being caught at the front of the field as two-time series champion Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez landed a 1-2 punch on Ferrari, Mercedes and the rest at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the season-opening race of the 2023 Formula 1 season. It looked like it was going to be the usual suspects on the podium, with the Bulls to be joined by Charles Leclerc, but with 17 laps to the finish Leclerc's Ferrari suddenly sputtered and stopped, leading the 25-year-old to shout into his radio, "No-no-no!"

That left Carlos Sainz Jr., in the second Ferrari, to grab that final podium spot for the Scuderia. But Fernando Alonso had other ideas as he and Aston Martin proved that their preseason pace was not a flash in the pan. Sainz's mirrors were full of Alonso with 12 laps to go before the Spaniard juked right, then left, and used DRS to power past Sainz to deny Ferrari.

"Amazing for the team," Alonso said. "Finishing with a podium in the first race of the year ... it's unreal."

Behind them was Lewis Hamilton and Alonso's teammate, Lance Stroll, who put on a terrific turn as he battled injuries to his wrists and legs from a training accident to finish seventh and give Aston Martin a pair of cars in the top 10. George Russell's Mercedes was seventh followed by Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Alex Albon (Williams) to make up the top 10.

Just off the final points-paying spot was Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri in 11th, who gave it his all in the closing laps but was unable to catch Albon. 

As for the three rookies in the field, American driver Logan Sergeant had a strong debut with in his Williams, finishing 12th. Nyck de Vries of AlphaTauri was 14th and McLaren's Oscar Piastri was out early and finished 20th in his rookie debut

The win was the first for Verstappen at Bahrain.

"It was a very good first stint, where I built my gap," Verstappen. "From there it was just managing the car, managing the race. It's nice to finally win here in Bahrain."

Unofficial finishing order

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
3. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4. Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
7. George Russell, Mercedes
8. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
10. Alex Albon, Williams
11. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
12. Logan Sergeant, Williams
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
14. Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri
15. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
16. Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
17. Lando Norris, McLaren
18. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
19. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
20. Oscar Piastri, McLaren

[Mar 5, 2023 at 11:40 am ET · Richard Biebrich Jr.]

That's a wrap! Red Bull Racing could not have scripted it better.

Unofficial finishing order

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
3. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4. Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
7. George Russell, Mercedes
8. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
10. Alex Albon, Williams
11. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
12. Logan Sergeant, Williams
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
14. Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri
15. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
16. Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
17. Lando Norris, McLaren
18. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
19. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
20. Oscar Piastri, McLaren