Formula 1 News: Verstappen dominates Bahrain GP for 55th win

World Driving Champion Max Verstappen took the lead from pole at the start, led every lap, and won the 2024 Bahrain GP going away for his 55th F1 win.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Aiming to win his 4th straight F1 title in a row this year, Verstappen toyed with both Ferraris, the Mercedes of George Russell and his Red Bull Honda teammate Sergio Perez who finished over 22 seconds adrift despite Verstappen being in cruise mode.

Despite being in cruise mode, Verstappen took the one point for fastest race lap.

“Unbelievable, I think today went even better than expected,” said Verstappen.

“The car was really nice on every compound, it was really lovely to drive. It was a lot of fun, I felt really good in the car. It’s special to have these kind of days, where it all feels perfect and you feel at one with the car.

“It’s a long season, a couple of days rest and then yeah, we go again in Saudi Arabia!”

Verstappen’s Bahrain GP weekend:

• Pole Position
• Fastest Lap
• Led Every Lap
• Race Win
• Grand Slam 

Verstappen and Perez finished 1-2 in Bahrain last year and they repeated the feat again this year, although the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr. stayed within striking distance of the Mexican until the end.

Perez did well to battle through from his 5th starting position to take 2nd.

“The Maximum we could have achieved, tricky race with the management of the tires,” said a happy Perez.

“Overall, a great way to start the season. Compound to compound, we were sliding and we had issues with engine braking. I’m sure we will analyze and learn for Jeddah.”

“I felt really good out there today, the start wasn’t ideal, but I managed my tires really well, overtook two or three cars and keeping up with a Red Bull at the end, which was a nice surprise,” said a happy Sainz Jr. who once again schooled his Ferrari teammate Leclerc. “Jeddah will be a surprise for everyone to see where we are, I expect Red Bull and McLaren to be competitive there.”

Charles Leclerc finished 4th in the #16 Ferrari after a late race battle with the Mercedes of George Russell, who held off the McLaren of Lando Norris for 5th.

Oscar Piastri made it two McLarens in the top 10 with a run to eighth, while Aston Martin also scored a double points finish thanks to Fernando Alonso crossing the line ninth and Lance Stroll taking 10th, despite being punted to the back of the field in a Turn 1 incident.

Zhou Guanyu just missed out on points in 11th with his alternate tire strategy, which involved a longer final stint, followed by Kevin Magnussen in the first of the Haas cars and the two RB machines of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.

RB sparked some late drama by asking Tsunoda to move aside for Ricciardo, given his alternate soft-tire run to the finish, prompting the Japanese racer to shout “are you kidding me over the radio?”, only to eventually adhere to the instruction.

Williams endured a difficult opening race to 2024, with Alex Albon having to cool his car mid-race on his way to a lowly 15th, while teammate Logan Sargeant brought up the rear after running off the track due to a reported steering wheel problem.

2024 Bahrain GP Results – 57 Laps