The critical Red Bull tyre tactic Ferrari couldn't copy in Bahrain GP
First honours in the 2023 Formula 1 season went to Red Bull after a convincing display that left Ferrari trailing in its wake. Max Verstappen led home Sergio Perez in a 1-2 forged on the back of a tyre strategy that its rivals simply could not emulate with harsh degradation on Bahrain's course track surface, which aided Fernando Alonso in his charge to the podium for Aston Martin.
"It was quite straightforward." Max Verstappen succinctly summed up his 36th Formula 1 victory, a crushing display from his Red Bull squad in the Bahrain opener to the 2023 season.
For the world champion, there was little to worry about over 57 laps at the Sakhir circuit, but the nature of his and his team's display left their rivals reeling. Because it was all very 2022 – Red Bull in control, Ferrari's reliability failing, Mercedes badly off the pace – albeit with one new green podium shoot.
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