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.
“It was very, very good first stint where I made my gap,” said Verstappen. “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.
“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.”
Perez had won a fight with Charles Leclerc over second place before the Ferrari driver retired from third with 16 laps to go when he lost drive.
But the big excitement in the race was created by Alonso, who dropped from fifth on the grid to seventh behind the two Mercedes drivers 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 Sainz.
The moves on Hamilton and Sainz were of the highest quality.
Alonso and Hamilton battled for a couple of laps, with the Spaniard passing the Briton into Turn Four before a snap from the rear allowed the Mercedes back past.
Then Alonso came back at Hamilton and overtook down the inside of Turn 10, an extremely rare place for a move.
