SAKHIR – World champion Max Verstappen coasted to victory ahead of teammate Sergio Perez at the season-opening Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix yesterday, continuing Red Bull’s dominance from the past campaigns, reported dpa news.
Verstappen destroyed the field after winning the start from pole to claim his 55th career victory ahead of Perez and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz under the Sakhir floodlights.
History repeated itself as Verstappen also beat Perez 12 months ago and kickstarted a dominant season for Red Bull where they won 21 of the 22 races, with Verstappen topping 19 of them for a third consecutive world title.
Ferrari got the podium from Sainz and had Leclerc in fourth after some struggles. Mercedes had to be content with fifth from George Russell and seventh from Lewis Hamilton who started his final season at the marque before a 2025 move to Ferrari.
Verstappen won by 22sec, with Sainz 25sec off the pace for Ferrari and Russell a staggering 46sec back for Mercedes.
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