Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing started this season with what looked like yet another easy win for the Dutch driver.
Fernando Alonso rolled back the clock to earn his 99th F1 podium finish, finishing ahead of compatriot Carlos Sainz in third place.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was a difficult race for Ferrari, as a power unit issue occurred with Charles Leclerc's car while he was in third place, causing him to retire early.
Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, George Russell, Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon all earned points in the race as Formula One made its return.
Verstappen takes charge of the initial race of the season
Verstappen had secured a large lead in qualifying on Saturday, leading to many thinking he would easily take home his 36th F1 victory on the following day.
The Dutchman's ability to defend his title was evident from the outset, proving too difficult for the rest of the field to catch. He completed the race with a strong lead of nearly 12 seconds ahead of his teammate, Perez, who earned second place.
Verstappen and his Austrian squad had an exceptional opening weekend in 2023, with the only issue being a slight difficulty with his downshifts.
Alonso celebrated his 99th podium finish and was awarded 'F1 Driver of the Day' by fans
When Alonso decided to exit Alpine and join Aston Martin, some people were sceptical. Nevertheless, six months later, it is already evident that his choice was a brilliant one.
Beginning on P5, Alonso experienced difficulty during the initial laps after being struck by teammate Stroll on the opening lap, yet he soon dismissed any obstacles to battle with Hamilton and Sainz for the last place on the podium.
At turn ten, the experienced driver made an impressive manoeuvre to pass Hamilton and then proceeded to overtake Sainz along the back straight, earning the 99th podium of his long and successful career.
A horrid beginning of the season for Leclerc
Most people are expecting Verstappen to win the World Drivers' Championship again this season, with Charles Leclerc from Ferrari being seen as his main adversary. However, during FP3, there was just 1 second separating the grid. Meaning the grid is much more tightly packed compared to last year.
The Ferrari team remains unchanged from last season. But with a new team principal in the name of Fred Vasseur, things may be looking up for the long-suffering team. Vasseur has said he's not going to make any changes this year, but will monitor the team and will fix what needs fixing in 2024. While Ferrari's driver lineup is among the best in F1, their strategy calls and reliability have been disastrous.
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