Max Verstappen wins season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen began 2023 on a dominant note as he won the opening race of the new season at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

World champion Verstappen cruised to victory with Sergio Perez completing a Red Bull one-two.

Former two-time champion Fernando Alonso showed he still has a lot of fight left in him as he came home in third place in a memorable performance in his Aston Martin.

Verstappen's cruise from pole position, with Perez taking the chequered flag 11.9 seconds behind, was his first win in Bahrain and also the first time the double champion had triumphed in the opening race of a campaign.

"Very lovely that, really good result. We had good race pace. Very happy with that. Thank you guys. That is exactly the start to the season we wanted and needed," Verstappen said after the win.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was running in third place when he slowed and pulled over 17 laps from the end, shouting "No, no, no! No power" over the team radio.

Australian Oscar Piastri retired 14 laps into his F1 debut with his stricken McLaren wheeled into the team garage after suffering an apparent electronics issue.

The 21-year-old had complained over the radio of gearbox problems and was told the mechanics would swap his steering wheel when he pitted.

The stop then dragged on, with the pit crew waiting as the seconds ticked by after the tyres were changed and nothing happened.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton had a decent start to the season as he came in fifth in his Mercedes, having started in seventh.

Super Max