Bahrain Grand Prix 2024: Verstappen wins opener
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 from pole by 22.457s over Sergio Pérez, with Carlos Sainz third as the drivers' standings began.
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix on 2 March 2024 by 22.457 seconds from Sergio Pérez after starting from pole at Bahrain International Circuit. Verstappen also set the fastest lap on lap 39 with a 1:32.608.
Race
Verstappen completed the race in 1:31:44.742 for Red Bull, while Pérez climbed from fifth on the grid to second and scored 18 points. Carlos Sainz finished third for Ferrari from fourth on the grid, 25.110 seconds behind the winner, and Charles Leclerc took fourth after starting second at a gap of 39.669 seconds.
George Russell started third and finished fifth for Mercedes, 46.788 seconds off the lead, while Lando Norris moved from seventh to sixth for McLaren and scored eight points. Lewis Hamilton gained two places from ninth to seventh for Mercedes, Oscar Piastri finished eighth from eighth for McLaren, and Fernando Alonso dropped from sixth on the grid to ninth for Aston Martin.
Championship
The result left Verstappen leading the drivers' championship on 26 points after round one, with Pérez second on 18 and Sainz third on 15. Red Bull placed both cars in the top two in the opening race of the 2024 season.
Key movers
Pérez made the biggest gain at the front by moving from fifth on the grid to second at the flag. Norris improved from seventh to sixth, and Lance Stroll rose from 12th to 10th for Aston Martin to take the final point with a finishing gap of 1:33.216.