Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen started the new season as he ended the last, with a dominant victory in the Middle East.

The two-time champion led the Bahrain Grand Prix almost from start to finish, initially lapping at a pace beyond his rivals and then controlling the race.

The drive, Verstappen's 36th victory, underlined his status as favourite for a third consecutive world title.

Sergio Perez made it a Red Bull one-two ahead of an inspired drive by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in third.

Read the full race report here

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Red Bull secured a one-two in qualifying and a top-two finish in the 57-lap Bahrain race - not a bad opening display to a 23-race calendar. Joyful scenes over at Aston Martin for the veteran Fernando Alonso too.

Come and join us again in two weeks' time as drivers test their skills at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, 17-19 March.

Thanks for all your comments and thumbs, folks.

See you again soon!

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

That is his [Max Verstappen's] level. He is that good that that is just the normal.

So, yes, it was well-driven and he did the job that he can do perfectly, but it is sublime. Take nothing away from him.

The way that he can drive that car is phenomenal. He can extract more out of a Formula 1 car than probably most ever could or ever will, but for him that is an average Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, talking to Sky Sports: "It's been an incredible weekend. We biased the car towards the race and the drivers were just fantastic today. The pit crew did their job. We were able to make the soft tyre work for us. The degradation for our car seemed less than the others and that gives you options.

"Checo [Perez] losing out at the start - he had a bit of work to do with Charles but then strategy played well there and he got the pass done and it was about managing the race to the end."

On whether anyone can mount a challenge to Max Verstappen this season: "All the circuits are different but it's a great start for us to come out of the blocks. This time last year we were sitting here with zero points and this year we came out here to address that. We've done it in the best possible way.

"The pace was good, the strategy was there, it was the best possible start for us. It was a superb race today, get on the board and get some points early."

Red Bull collect 43 points from today's double success, while Aston Martin slot into second place in the ridiculously early constructors'' championship with 23 points.

Mercedes are third with 16 points, Ferrari are four points behind the Silver Arrows after Carlos Sainz's fourth-placed finish and Alfa Romeo are fifth thanks to Valtteri Bottas' four points.

Fours all over the standings.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

A perfect one-two. Just what Max Verstappen wanted and great for Sergio Perez as well in coming second. The alarming thing for everybody else is just how far up the road they were come the end of the race.

We have been speaking about Fernando Alonso finishing in a heroic second place in his Aston Martin, but he has come the best part of 40 seconds behind Max Verstappen.

I can't see anybody making that up - that is such a big gap. Now, there will be tracks where they struggle more, there will be tracks that suit other people, but that is a huge gap from one team to everybody else.

Andrew: Ferrari the big losers today. The second fastest package after Red Bull, but they were bettered by Aston Martin on track as their usual reliability gremlins creeping in.

Jatinder: Why is no one talking about Bottas. I think he drove well.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is Fernando Alonso's 99th career podium finish.

Here he is as a young pup during his first champagne moment for Renault at the Malaysia Grand Prix in 2003.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso on finishing third: "First of all congrats to my team-mate Lance [Stroll] - 12 days ago he had the surgery. He is fighting right up with everybody so amazing for the team, it was great.

"To finish on the podium first race of the year is just amazing. What Aston Martin did over the winter to have the second best car on race one is just unreal.

"Obviously I would love to start in front of them [the Red Bulls and Ferraris] and use our pace, but we had not the best start and had to pass on track. It felt a little bit more exciting and more adrenalin for sure, so hopefully people enjoyed it. We did enjoy it as well, so let's enjoy it together. "

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Let's hear from Sergio Perez, who finished second:

Dream start for the team?

"Yeah it's a great start. When we look back at last year and how we started here, it's really nice. It's a nice comeback as a team. We worked really hard over the winter so it's great to see all the boys enjoying the first race.

"We have a strong package so it was important today to get both cars to the end."

Any areas to work on to catch Max?

"I think today that start really put me out of the race but it was all about minimising the damage so to finish in second was the maximum could do today. It's a long season. I think I'm getting closer every session.

"I'm feeling comfortable with the car and we have a strong package and I will give my best."

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Max Verstappen who wins the Bahrain Grand Prix: "It was very very good first stint where I made my gap. From there, it was all about looking after tyres. You never know what's going to happen later on the race. We just wanted to make sure we have the right tyres and in good condition as well.

"I'm very happy to finally win a race here in Bahrain.

On any issues with the car during the race: "Nothing big, just little things you want to finetune, it's easy to get on top of.

"Jeddah is a very different track. Our pace will depend race to race.

"We have a good race package. We can definitely fight with this car and also big thank you to the team, over the winter, to get us a quick race car again."

Podium celebrations are in full swing, so shall we hear what the top three drivers had to say?

Image source, Formula 1 Twitter

George Russell slipped down a place to finish seventh for Mercedes in Bahrain.

There was a point in the bag for Williams' Alex Albon and a decent 12th place for his new partner Logan Sargeant on his F1 debut.

The battle of the Alpine team-mates was won by Pierre Gasly, despite starting back of the grid, after Esteban Ocon wracked up multiple time penalties.

Jeremiah: Mercedes is still a very slow car! They have loads of work to do. Rather than catching up with Ferrari and Red Bull, they have Aston Martin to think of first for the Championship position.

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter

I thin Max wasn't entirely comfortable with the car yesterday but he still put it on pole. This is an important start to his campaign.

He had never won a season opener. He has now.

Alonso: "What you have done guys, what you have done? I am so proud of you."

Team: "That's for Jim's 60th birthday."

Alonso: "Happy birthday, the 60s are the new 40s."

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Rosanna Tennent was talking to Charles Leclerc, after his retirement:

"I don't know what happened. I had a loss of power - that's the only thing I felt and that was it.

"We are very far behind Red Bull. I was not going to say it was positive. We were second which was the best we could do, but we couldn't bring the car to the end and at the end this is what is very important."

The Aston Martin team are partying like it's 1999. The hugs for third-placed Fernando Alonso are coming in at a rapid rate for the 41-year-old. Everyone wants a piece of the two-time world champion.

Lance Stroll is straight over to congratulate his new team-mate. A warm embrace between the two drivers.

Team: "Well done Max, nicely driven."

Verstappen: "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."

Horner: "Well done mate, that's the perfect start to 2023. A brilliantly executed race. Very well done, a great team result."

Verstappen: "Yes, a perfect one-two."

Carlos Sainz ends the day in the same position that he started in as he crosses the line in fourth place.

Lewis Hamilton moves up two places from his opening grid place and tells his team "to keep pushing" as the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix winner brings the Mercedes home in fifth.