The 2023 Formula 1 season got off to an exciting start with the Bahrain Grand Prix, which saw Max Verstappen claim a dominant victory in his Red Bull. Verstappen started the race from pole position and quickly opened up a four-second lead over the rest of the field, with his teammate Sergio Perez following him in second place. Charles Leclerc, who started from third, briefly took the second position from Perez at the start, but eventually fell out of the podium positions.
One of the key moments of the race came during the first round of pit stops, where Verstappen switched to a new set of soft tires and Alonso stayed out longer on his original set of tires. However, the order at the front remained unchanged after the second round of pit stops, with Verstappen crossing the finish line in first, Perez in second, and Alonso claiming third place in his debut race for Aston Martin.
Further down the grid, there were some exciting battles for position, with Alonso making a great move to overtake Russell and finish on the podium. Hamilton struggled with the pace of his Mercedes, and despite a late charge, was unable to overtake Sainz for fourth place. Gasly managed to overtake Albon for ninth place, while Hulkenberg was penalized for track limits violations.
Overall, it was a thrilling start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, with Verstappen sending a strong message to his rivals that he will be a serious contender for the championship this year. The title race looks set to be a closely-fought battle, with several teams showing promising pace in the opening race of the season.
