Red Bull’s Max Verstappen controlled the race and ended with a dominant victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The two-time champion underlined his status as favourite for a third consecutive world title leading the Bahrain Grand Prix almost from start to finish, initially lapping at a pace beyond his rivals.
Sergio Perez made it a Red Bull one-two ahead of an inspired drive by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in third.
The big excitement in the race was created by the veteran Alonso, who dropped from fifth on the grid to seventh behind Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on the opening lap, but fought back to take the final podium place.
Alonso passed Russell before the first pit stops, then caught and passed Hamilton after their second stops, before closing on Carlos Sainz.
The moves on Hamilton and Sainz were of the highest quality.
Verstappen’s 36th victory looks to have set the tone for the new season but Formula 1 lovers will be keeping an eye out for Alonso’s performances and the mystery of what could happen in the Mercedes team.