Summary

  • Max Verstappen wins season opener in Bahrain, Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez P2

  • Fernando Alonso passes second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz to claim a brilliant third place on Aston Martin debut

  • Ferrari's Charles Leclerc retires from third on lap 41

  • McLaren's Oscar Piastri out of debut race with apparent electrical issue, Alpine's Esteban Ocon also retires after several time penalties

  • Get involved via #bbcf1

  • Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Lap 40 of 57

    What's happened to Charles Leclerc!

    The Ferrari is pulling up and the Monegasque driver radios through to say "no power!"

  2. Team radio - Alonso

    Yes, let's go.

  3. 'He has sold Lewis the dummy'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    You just don't see that move in Formula 1 anymore, especially not on a seven-time world champion. Oh my days, he has sold Lewis the dummy there. What a great move.

  4. Lap 38 of 57

    Fernando Alonso wants to overtake the Mercedes at Turn 10. Surely he can't pull off that move?

    He can! The Aston Martin finds the seven-time world champion napping and swats the W14 aside.

    “YES. LET’S GO!” is the empathic radio message from Alonso.

  5. 'Alonso outsmarted himself'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think Fernando Alonso stopped it, expecting the undercut from Lewis Hamilton. He sort of outsmarted himself and Hamilton squeezes through.

  6. Lap 37 of 57

    Fernando Alonso is flexing his muscles in the AMR23 and goes through on the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton for fifth place.

    The Spaniard runs slightly wide after completing the move, allowing the seven-time world champion to regain his position in the top five.

    Fernando AlonsoGetty Images

  7. Lap 36 of 57

    A scream from the Red Bull crew. "Box. Box" is the call to race leader Max Verstappen. The world champion is in, 2.3secs worth of waiting and he's back out again within minimum fuss.

    verstappenGetty Images

  8. Lap 35 of 57

    Hard tyres are ready to be bolted on for Sergio Perez. It's a slower stop for the Mexican but he's back out into second place.

    Here comes Fernando Alonso into the pit lane. New rubber is fixed onto the Aston Martin and he's shaping up to battle Lewis Hamilton, who is running in fifth position.

  9. Alonso v Hamilton the 'biggest fight'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Can Fernando Alonso beat Lewis Hamilton to finish fifth in this grand prix? That is probably the biggest fight we have right now.

  10. Lap 34 of 57

    Ferrari call in Charles Leclerc to make his second pit stop, while the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso stays out on track for a longer stint. Leclerc comes out into fourth place, while Alonso moves up into third.

    Charles LeclercGetty Images

  11. 'Great move'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The undercut worked really nicely for Lance Stroll against George Russell. Great move.

  12. 'A lot of stuff I can learn' - Piastri

    Rosanna Tennant
    5 Live F1 reporter

    Oscar PiastriGetty Images

    Talking with Oscar Piastri after having to retire:

    "Some kind of electrical issue. We thought it might be a steering wheel - we changed it but it didn't fix anything so we'll have to go and diagnose what it is, Its a bit of a shame - it felt like it was going reasonably well and we'll try to be in better shape in Saudi.

    What was it like to finally race?

    "To be in a race track again was a very nice feeling and to be in a competitive environment - I think the first lap was pretty clean and I don't think I lost any spots, and in fact I think I gained a couple. I thought I was getting there, experiencing dirty air. It was a big step up from F2. A lot of learning and a lot of stuff I can learn, and better luck next time."

  13. 'Not a good hat-trick'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    You kind of feel sorry for Esteban Ocon. To get a penalty is one thing, but to get three? That is not a good hat-trick.

  14. Lap 32 of 57

    Carlos Sainz and George Russell are the next two to come in for fresh rubber.

    George Russell comes out by has the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, who has also pitted, on his tail. The tyres are not up to temperature just yet for the Silver Arrows man and Stroll goes through to take seventh spot.

  15. Team radio - Hamilton

    Team: "Box, box."

    Hamilton: "My tyres are OK man, you are shortening my run."

    Team: "Undercut threat."

  16. Lap 31 of 57

    Lewis Hamilton is told to box by his Mercedes pit wall under the threat of the undercut from the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.

  17. Get Involved

    #BBCF1

    Laura DS: At what point do McLaren make the call to retire Lando, rather than pulling him in to pit every few laps to top his car up?

    quixoticgeek: If this race is indicative of the rest of the season, the only question is at which race in the season do RBR claim both championships.

  18. Lap 30 of 57

    'How many time penalties do you want during this race, Esteban?'

    'Chuck us another one, please.'

    Five-second slap for the Alpine man.

    Esteban OconGetty Images

  19. Team radio - Verstappen

    Verstappen: "My left front is giving up a little bit."

    Team: "Understood, copy."

  20. Lap 29 of 57

    "My left front is giving up a little bit."

    Whose radio message is this? Max Verstappen.

    The Dutchman is 13 seconds ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez, so no major concern in the voice of the world champion.