Verstappen leads the pack as Red Bull targets another Formula 1 title
In a season that many observers have circled as a continuation of the current order, Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing squad arrive as the favorites to clinch the Formula 1 World Championship for the year. The Dutch star remains the central figure, with his team aiming to extend their dominance after successive campaigns that have reshaped the sport. Fernando Alonso, the veteran Spaniard, signs on with renewed ambition, hoping to push the grid toward a broader balance of power that could challenge the Austrian team’s sustained advantage. Carlos Sainz is positioned to push back and claim a steady foothold among the frontrunners as the season unfolds.
The World Championship began on a sunny weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit, and the early signs point to a showdown that mirrors last season’s intensity. Verstappen, nicknamed Mad Max for his unyielding pace, stamped his authority on the first day of official pre-season testing with the RB23, leaving little doubt about his intent to start strong. On the second and final day, he was narrowly outsprinted by a bold run from Guanyu Zhou in an Alfa Romeo, signaling that the challenge at the front is more intense than ever and that every circuit will demand peak performance.
Verstappen’s readiness to treat the calendar as his personal stage could keep the rest of the field chasing. In the previous campaign, he extended a historic stockpile of wins and built a considerable gap over rivals, leveraging the continued collaboration with Sergio Pérez to maximize Red Bull’s performance envelope. The combination of Verstappen’s defiance on track and the team’s technical depth has contributed to a period where dominant results have often translated into a broader influence across the championship table, including the battle for Constructors’ honors where Red Bull has made its mark over recent years.
The pace in the early sessions also highlights the potential for Fernando Alonso to reclaim a top-tier rhythm. The Asturian driver approaches the season with a campaign-ready mindset, showing strong pace in practice and positioning himself toward the upper tier of standings as teams gather data and fine-tune setups. At the same time, Carlos Sainz demonstrated competitive speed, though his position from the early stages of a race weekend can vary, illustrating how even seasoned competitors must navigate the evolving compromises of practice, qualifying, and race trim.
Bahrain GP schedule
Saturday, March 4
Free practice 3: 12:30 – 13:30
Classification: 16:00