F1 Bahrain Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Verstappen WINS season opener amid Horner’s sext scandal – latest updates
THE Formula 1 season kicked off with another Max Verstappen win at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Defending champion Verstappen started from pole after topping qualifying for an opener which has been marred by Red Bull chief Christian Horner's alleged sext scandal which has rocked the sport.
The team principal has again denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague after being cleared following an internal investigation on Wednesday before messages claiming to be from him were leaked.
- Start time: 3pm GMT
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event
Red Bull give you wins
It has been the perfect day for the constructor as they take both the top places on the podium.
Verstappen started in pole position and held his place for the entire race while Perez worked his way up from fifth on the grid.
It takes the edge off what has been a stressful week for Red Bull for non-racing related matters.
Credit: AP 
Credit: AP Carlos lays down gauntlet to team
Carlos Sainz showed Charles Leclerc that he has a fight on his hands this season.
With the driver having his last season with Ferrari he seems intent on making a statement.
Finishing on the podium in Bahrain is a good start.
Credit: Getty Bahrain Grand Prix delivers opening action
Red Bull get a first/second finish just as we did last year.
It certainly seems to be a track that both Verstappen and Perez like.
Aston Martin get both drivers into the points too.
Credit: @F1
The man, the myth, the legend
Max Verstappen's victory today takes him level with Michael Schumacher for total race wins.
While many point to how superior the Red Bull car is, the driver still has a lot to do with period of F1 dominance.
The man just does not make any mistakes and has laid down a marker in Bahrain today.
Credit: Getty Sainz sends message to Ferrari
With the arrival of Lewis Hamilton imminent for next season, Carlos Sainz replied in the perfect way today.
The Ferrari driver, for now, finished in third place ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Sainz was also voted the 'driver of the day'.
Credit: @F1 Verstappen just does not let up
Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix at a canter, he started in first place and finished in the same position.
He barely had any challenge throughout the race and seals his first victory of the new F1 season.
It seems everyone will be chasing the Dutchman once again.
Verstappen also picked up an extra point for the fastest lap of the day.
Credit: Reuters Bahrain Grand Prix results
Here is how it all finished in the season opener:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix
Lap 55/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Verstappen laps Ricciardo and Tsunoda just after they had completed a driver swap.
Tsunoda was not happy about the order from his team.
Perez seems to have some knocking on the rear axle but should be able to see this out with so few laps remaining.
Credit: Getty
Lap 53/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Max Verstappen is heading to another F1 victory.
Currently leading his teammate by 19.8 seconds, you cannot see anything happening to change that now.
Carlos Sainz is 4.2 seconds behind Sergio Perez, those soft tyres don't seem to be failing him.
Lap 51/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Carlos Sainz is leading the vote for driver of the day so far.
He has shown some aggressive driving today and had some great overtakes, particularly of teammate Charles Leclerc.
As it stands, we are going to have the exact one/two as last season's race.
Lap 49/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Alonso uses DRS down the straight to overtake Stroll and move into ninth place.
They feel with his newer tyres, he has a better chance of taking Piastri in front of him.
Norris is closing the gap to Russell now.
Lap 47/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Russell goes very wide off the track, allowing Leclerc to get the inside line and move ahead.
This is the problem when you are driving with your mirrors, trying to defend.
Red Bull are first and second, with Ferrari third and fourth.
Lap 45/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Carlos Sainz is on the hard tyre as most drivers are, apart from the two Red Bulls.
He seems to be banking on the softs degrading so he can attack Sergio Perez.
Meanwhile Leclerc is trying to overtake Russell.
Credit: Getty Lap 43/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Russell is struggling with engine cooling and having to manage his car in the race with Leclerc hot on his heels.
Toto Wolff looks deep in thought as he watches the action unfold.
Perez is doing well to hold off Sainz and reduce the gap to Verstappen.
Lap 41/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Verstappen leads Perez by 16.1 seconds with the final pit stops having been made.
Perez leads Sainz by 2.8 seconds and then there is some gap to Russell in fourth.
Leclerc is fifth with Norris in sixth spot.
Hamilton is currently in seventh place.
Lap 39/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Perez comes into the pit and manages to get back out on the track in front of Sainz.
There is barely anything between them now and the Ferrari has the warmer tyres.
The Red Bull has gone onto soft tyres as Perez does not have any hard tyres to use.
Lap 37/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
As Piastri comes out of the pit lane, he seemed to have held off Hamilton but the Mercedes makes a move.
With warmer tyres and the McLaren taking a wide corner, he is able to move ahead.
Leclerc passes Alonso to move into fifth spot.
Lap 35/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Verstappen now leads by 17.3 seconds.
Sainz has dropped to 3.2 seconds behind Perez in third.
All 20 drivers are still on the track, there has never been a retirement-free Bahrain Grand Prix.
Credit: Reuters Lap 33/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Bottas has had a nightmare in the pits as his team have a wheelnut issue.
It results in a 52.4 second pit stop.
Frustrating for the driver who was having a decent drive up until that point but now finds himself in 19th place.
Lap 31/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
It is hard to see anyone putting pressure on the Red Bull dominance in this race.
Sainz is the closest to the them but Perez is holding him off well.
Meanwhile Hamilton manages to move up another place to eighth.
Lap 29/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Stroll heads in for his second pit of the race.
Aston Martin are not having a good day in Bahrain.
Leclerc is starting to close the gap to Russell in front of him.
Lap 27/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Sainz is closing the gap between himself and Perez.
His teammate seems to be struggling with the brakes on his car and seems to have no confidence in them.
Russell seems to be struggling to keep up with the Ferrari in front.
Lap 25/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Verstappen is driving like he has been driving every weekend with no break in the season.
He has now opened up a 10.8 seconds lead over Perez.
Sainz is in third spot, with some breathing space between him and Russell in fourth.
Credit: Getty Lap 23/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Gasly is not happy with his Alpine, compounded by a pit stop that was six seconds longer than it needed to be.
Coming into the season, the constructor knew they had problems with the changes they had made to their car.
Hamilton is in eighth place, having got ahead of Alonso.
