Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has cruised to victory in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.
The defending champion and his teammate Sergio Perez locked out the front row during qualifying, and it helped turn the race into a procession for Verstappen.
The battle for the final podium spot was a captivating battle, however, with Fernando Alonso fulfilling the promise of his Aston Martin from practice to deliver an excellent third place.
Off the grid, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made a sensational start from third, benefitting from the marginally fresher tyres from undertaking one fewer hot lap during qualifying.
However, it was not enough to get past Verstappen, and it soon became apparent that the Dutchman would dominate the race, barring any issues with his car.
Forty-one years young...@alo_oficial scores his 99th career podium #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/a22IP9SbL2
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 5, 2023
Instead, the excitement occurred back in the pack, Alonso somehow avoiding damage to his car when his teammate Lance Stroll hit the back of his Aston Martin at the fourth corner.
The Spaniard shook that off to get the better of both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in their Mercedes at different stages of the race, and it appeared that the veteran would emerge as the best of the rest behind the Red Bulls and Ferraris.
That was until he was promoted up a place after the retirement of Leclerc from third spot due to an electrical issue, setting up an opportunity to then overtake teammate Carlos Sainz Jr who was struggling with his tyres.
Hamilton had hopes of getting past Sainz during the closing stages, but the seven-time world champion had to make do with a credible fifth, ahead of Stroll and teammate Russell.
Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly, who started last on the grid, and Alexander Albon completed the top 10.
Darren Plant
