Hamilton edges Verstappen in the season-opening thriller at Bahrain GP
Lewis Hamilton shows his incredible battle against title rival Max Verstappen in 56-lap season-opening race at Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain on Sunday (03/28)
The Mercedes driver, who started 2nd on the grid, stayed to follow Verstappen's Red Bull lap-by-lap. Both the 36-year-old Briton and the 23-year-old Dutch driver made two-stop strategy. But it was Hamilton who came out in front of Verstappen until the chequered flag.
The rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen for the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship title still gets tighter until the next 21 races.
- Race facts (from Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team's official website)
- Lewis secured his 75th win for the Mercedes F1 Team this evening with a stunning drive in Bahrain.
- A slow pit-stop on lap 30 cost Valtteri the chance to fight for the win, with the Finn coming home P3 in his 80th race with the Silver Arrows.
- This evening, Lewis broke Michael Schumacher’s record of most laps led in F1, which previously stood at 5,111.
- Valtteri scored an additional point for the fastest lap of 1:32.090 on the final lap of the race.
- P1 and P3 secures the 15th podium place at the Bahrain Grand Prix for the Mercedes F1 Team, a new record.
- This victory was Lewis’ fifth in Bahrain making him the most successful driver at this race.
- Russell Braithwaite, Chief Financial Officer, accepted the Constructors' trophy on behalf of the team.
- Race results (top 10)
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
8. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari)
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - 1:32.090 on lap 56
Driver with the fastest lap of the race will get additional 1 championship point.
