By Reinaldo Oliveros
02 Mar 2024, 1:40 PM EST
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) started the 2024 Formula 1 season with a dominant victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, same trend that was followed by the Mexican teammate, Sergio Pérez, completing a perfect podium for Red Bull.
Verstappen led the race from start to finish, with a pace that his rivals could not match. The Dutchman crossed the finish line 22 seconds ahead of Pérez, who made a great comeback from fifth position on the grid.
“It was even better than I expected”Verstappen said. “The car went very well in everything, it had a lot of pace and I was able to enjoy driving.”
Pérez, for his part, was satisfied with second place. “It was the most he could get,” he said. “The race was complicated due to tire management, But I am happy with the result.”
The season ended the same as it began with Max Verstappen and Checo Pérez
The only one able to face the Austrian team It was Carlos Sainz from Madrid. He was the only one to clock 1.36 for several consecutive laps, the time that Pérez copied lap by lap, and was able to follow in the wake of the Mexican’s RB20
Pérez had a great performance in Bahrain. The Mexican driver started in fifth position, but overtook several rivals to finish in second place on the podium. Pérez had a great fight with Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) for second place, and finally managed to surpass him.
Yes, he did give the Spaniard the chance to surpass his teammate, the Monegasque Leclerc, first and the British George Russell (Mercedes) later, in a race in which Sainz seemed to come out angry, knowing that, whatever he does, it will be his last season. in Ferrari.
Verstappen’s triumph and Pérez’s second place is a great start for Red Bull in the 2024 season. The Austrian team seems to be the strongest on the grid and will aim to fight for the world championship.
The fight for the last places was more lively. The pace of the Alpine did not improve much, but at least they avoided being in last position, reserved for the American Logan Sargeant (Williams), who went off the track and threatened to cause a virtual safety car, although he finally returned to the Sakhir track .
Keep reading:
– Sergio “Checo” Pérez after qualifying in Bahrain: “Everything has been very close”
– Max Verstappen took the first pole position of the 2024 Formula 1 season