Double Red Bull success at the F1 season opener led by Verstappen

The 25-year-old driver won the 36th race of his career in F1, behind his teammate, Mexican Sergio Pérez, who finished second.

41-year-old Fernando Alonso, the Spanish driver of Aston Martin, came third in Sahir, this was his 99th podium finish.

Verstappen took the start well, he kept the leading position, his team-mate who started next to him, Pérez, however, lost second place to Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who had a great start. At the end of the first lap, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Pérez were the runners on the podium, while Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) improved two positions and came fifth.

The two leading Ferraris changed tires for the first time, namely on the 14th lap, when first Leclerc and then fourth-placed Carlos Sainz Jr. also got new tires. In response to this, one lap later, Verstappen, who was racing at the front, also drove into the pits for fresh tires, followed by Pérez three laps later.

After the wheel changes, the original order was restored, Verstappen led by more than 10 seconds ahead of Leclerc, who was followed by Pérez at a distance of almost four seconds. As fourth, Sainz raced almost unbothered by anyone, while 5-8. places, the two Mercedes fought with the two Aston Martins in the order of Hamilton, Alonso, George Russell, Lance Stroll.

Pérez then soon caught up with Leclerc and overtook his rival nearing the halfway point of the race, then stopped for fresh tires for the second time on the 35th lap. Two laps later, Verstappen, who was in the lead with a big advantage, had his second tire change and returned to the track first. Behind him, Pérez was 12 seconds behind, while Leclerc, who was racing in third place, gave up the race due to a technical fault 17 laps before the start.

Alonso was thus able to battle with Sainz for the bottom step of the podium, and the veteran Spanish competitor was well ahead of his compatriot. In the end, Verstappen won, undisturbed by anyone, according to the preliminary chance assessment, and the Red Bull success was completed by Pérez's second place.

The race was started by Giacomo Agostini, the 15-time Italian speed motorcycle world champion and an 80-year-old legend of motorsport in Sáhír.

The world championship series continues in two weeks with the Saudi Grand Prix in Jeddah.

(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti/Photo: pixabay)