Max Verstappen effortlessly secures a commanding victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

March 02, 2024

Max Verstappen effortlessly secures a commanding victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen came through for Red Bull Racing amidst the challenges faced by team principal Christian Horner, securing a victory in the season-opening Formula One race in Bahrain on Saturday. The lead-up to the Gulf Kingdom's first race was dominated by controversies surrounding Horner, but the team found solace in Verstappen's triumph, leading a Red Bull one-two with Sergio Perez claiming the second spot. Despite the off-track distractions, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz secured third place, followed by teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth. Mercedes' George Russell and Lewis Hamilton had a less-than-ideal performance, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, with McLaren's Lando Norris in sixth place.

In an eventful week in Bahrain, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was cleared of allegations made by a female colleague after an internal investigation by Red Bull GmbH, the team's parent company, on Wednesday. Subsequently, numerous WhatsApp messages, purportedly authored by Horner, were leaked to the F1 community a day later.

Despite the tumultuous circumstances, Horner remained resolute and, alongside his wife Geri, a Spice Girl, displayed unity as they walked hand in hand through the paddock one hour and 45 minutes before the race commenced. Chalerm Yoovidhya, Red Bull's majority shareholder and a staunch supporter of Horner, joined the couple on the team's terrace, publicly expressing solidarity.

Ahead of the race, Horner shared a kiss with his wife Geri before heading to the pit wall to witness his team's dominant performance. The couple stood together beneath the podium, smiling, as Max Verstappen celebrated his victory.

Verstappen, the reigning champion for the past three seasons, appears poised to continue his dominating streak into 2024, securing another authoritative lights-to-flag victory. The Dutch driver successfully fended off his teammate Perez, finishing 22.4 seconds ahead to claim his 18th win in the last 19 F1 races and an impressive 36th victory since Hamilton's last grand prix win.

Expressing his satisfaction over the team radio, Verstappen remarked, "Great start to the year, guys, a one-two finish, as well, so fantastic." Team principal Christian Horner responded, saying, "As you say, Max, pole-position, one-two finish, fastest lap, a clean sweep. A brilliant way to start the year. Thanks very much."

When questioned by Sky Sports about leading the team in Saudi Arabia the following week, Horner affirmed his confidence, stating, "Absolutely, I wouldn't be here otherwise." Red Bull's strong performance in the previous season allowed them the luxury of shifting focus to this year's car earlier than their competitors.

Renowned designer Adrian Newey seems to have crafted a car capable of propelling Verstappen to new heights. After successfully fending off Leclerc's challenge from Ferrari in the race to the opening corner, Verstappen's victory seemed assured from early on. By the end of the 11th lap, he had already established a substantial 10-second lead.

Meanwhile, Mercedes' Russell showed promising momentum, securing second place from Leclerc on the third lap. However, this marked the pinnacle of success for the Silver Arrows, as Perez overtook Russell on the exit of Turn 4 on lap 14, and Sainz surpassed the British driver for third place three laps later.

Hamilton initiated the race from the ninth position and faced minimal early progress, expressing concerns about a broken seat on lap 25. Despite the setback, he gradually advanced through the field, overtaking McLaren's Oscar Piastri on lap 35 and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso for seventh on lap 39.

However, the seven-time world champion, set to join Ferrari next year, failed to make significant headway against Norris ahead. Mercedes' challenging evening took another hit when Leclerc claimed fourth from Russell with 11 laps remaining. Hamilton ultimately finished 50 seconds behind Verstappen.

Verstappen, on the other hand, delivered another commanding performance, solidifying his status as the clear favorite for another title despite the ongoing off-track challenges for Red Bull. After securing his 55th career win, he exclaimed, "Unbelievable. Today went even better than expected. The car was really nice to drive. We had a lot of pace. It was super enjoyable."

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