Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, racing for Aston Martin, finished on the podium in Bahrain this Sunday, taking third place in the season’s opening Formula One round. The result underscored Red Bull’s ongoing dominance as Max Verstappen claimed the victory, with Sergio Pérez of Mexico finishing second and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari ending in fourth.
In his first race with Aston Martin, the Spaniard exceeded expectations and demonstrated that his team is now capable of fighting for the championship this year. This podium also marked the 99th podium of his illustrious career, his first since the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, added another win to his tally in a display of Red Bull’s pace. Pérez followed in second place, while Sainz slipped from the podium with ten laps remaining, eventually finishing fourth. Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, was unable to complete the race due to a mechanical issue.
As the sunset painted the Sakhir track, Verstappen secured the early advantage and held steady, while Leclerc briefly challenged Pérez for second before Leclerc faded. Alonso endured pressure from Mercedes in the opening corners, including a rear-attack from his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll, which briefly dropped him to seventh.
Two laps into the race, Verstappen widened his gap to two seconds, with Leclerc keeping Pérez within reach thanks to a well-timed DRS activation. Tire wear on the white tyres began to show signs, signaling the need for careful management as the race progressed.
Turn 12 turned up the tension as teams pitted in quick succession. Red Bull opted for an additional soft-tire run in hopes of finishing on harder, more durable rubber later in the race. Alonso, meanwhile, overtook George Russell and moved up from the midfield while the other Mercedes car trailed in fifth as Lewis Hamilton pitted for a tire change. Hamilton’s pit stop also helped Alonso improve his position, while Ferrari and Mercedes began to feel the effects of tire and pace penalties. By lap 28, Leclerc yielded to Pérez, and a lap later Hamilton entered the pits to defend against Alonso’s push. In the end, Hamilton could not withstand the pressure from the two-time world champion, and Alonso pressed forward to third by lap 38.
Moments later, on lap 41, a dramatic incident halted the race when a car ahead imploded and stalled in the middle of the track, triggering a virtual safety car. Sainz briefly moved into podium contention, but Alonso had the advantage, keeping his rhythm and maintaining a razor-sharp edge throughout the closing stages.
After an intense battle, Verstappen crossed the finish line to take the season opener, staking his claim as the first World Cup leader and signaling another strong title defense. Pérez and Alonso completed the podium, while Sainz and Hamilton finished among the top five in a competitive start to the season.
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