F1 Bahrain GP 2024 LIVE: Results with Max Verstappen winning the first race of season

Follow live F1 updates from the first race of the season in Bahrain with Max Verstappen leading from pole

Christian Horner breaks silence after being cleared of alleged 'inappropriate behaviour'

Formula 1’s 2024 season is well underway as the teams prepare for Saturday’s race with the noise surrounding Christian Horner refusing to fade.

Friday’s action in Bahrain saw Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz top the leaderboard in the third free practice session to set up a Ferrari-Red Bull clash in qualifying. McLaren’s Lando Norris also found some quick pace though the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were unable to maintain their strong showing from Thursday.

In qualifying, Max Verstappen won the battle against Ferrari and finished on pole thanks to an improved lap time of 1:29:179 beating out Charles Leclerc by 0.228 seconds. Hamilton starts in P9 though teammate Russell had a storming final lap to clinch P3 and will be in with a chance of challenging the leaders today. Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso round out the top five.

Elsewhere, Christian Horner drew the media’s attention again after Whatsapps allegedly sent by him to a female colleague were leaked to the press, in what could be an embarrassing development for the Red Bull team principal who had previous been investigated and cleared over alleged ’inappropriate behaviour’.

Follow updates from the Bahrain Grand Prix with The Independent:

F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX - RACE UPDATES

• Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix; Perez 2nd; Sainz 3rd
• Click HERE for the top-10 in Bahrain
• LAP 18/57: Carlos Sainz moves up the order to third
• LAP 7/57: Sergio Perez overtakes Charles Leclerc with ease
• LAP 3/57: George Russell takes second place from Leclerc
• LAP 1/57: Max Verstappen keeps the lead from the start
• Christian Horner latest: Geri hand in hand with husband on F1 grid at Bahrain race

[2 March 2024 16:43 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: TOP-10

1. Max Verstappen

2. Sergio Perez

3. Carlos Sainz

4. Charles Leclerc

5. George Russell

6. Lando Norris

7. Lewis Hamilton

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Fernando Alonso

10. Lance Stroll

[2 March 2024 16:36 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix!

A cruise once again for the reigning world champion!

He got off the line quickly and has not looked back! 25 points and an extra point for the fastest lap - as he wins the first race of the season by 22 seconds.

2. Sergio Perez (+22.508)

3. Carlos Sainz (+2.658)

[2 March 2024 16:33 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lando Norris gradually catching George Russell (Lap 55/57)

From 2.5 secs to 1.8 seconds between George Russell in fifth and Lando Norris in sixth.

Could we get a late move with three laps to go?

[2 March 2024 16:30 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Top-10 looks pretty set (Lap 52/57)

No car is within two seconds of the one in front in the top-10... the order is quite set now.

Further back, Yuki Tsunoda not happy at being told to swap with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, with Kevin Magnussen in front of the Japanese driver.

However, they’ve all been caught by Max Verstappen - the race-leader - who is now 20 seconds out in front.

Under five laps to go now.

[2 March 2024 16:21 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell makes a mistake! (Lap 48/57)

The Mercedes driver - under pressure from Charles Leclerc - does a Leclerc and locks up at turn 10!

That allows the Ferrari to pass him for P4.

10 laps to go, here’s the top 10:

1. Verstappen

2. Perez

3. Sainz

4. Leclerc

5. Russell

6. Norris

7. Hamilton

8. Piastri

9. Stroll

10. Alonso

And no retirements yet!

[2 March 2024 16:13 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen sets the fastest lap (Lap 42/57)

A 1:32 - two seconds quicker than Charles Leclerc, the previous fastest lap holder!

A maximum 26 points coming the Dutchman’s way.

[2 March 2024 16:08 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pits (Lap 38/57)

Max Verstappen pits with a 41-second lead - and comes out 16 seconds in front!

He is barely seeing another car on track is the Red Bull driver.

The battles behind him are a bit better: Sainz is 1.7 seconds behind Perez in second, while Leclerc is just 1.5 seconds behind Russell in fourth.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Stroll

Just under 20 laps to go...

[2 March 2024 16:02 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton undercuts Oscar Piastri (Lap 36/57)

Hamilton comes into the pits and, a lap later, he jumps Oscar Piastri who pitted himself!

The McLaren did his best to hold off Hamilton at turn 1, but slid wide on cold tyres to allow Hamilton in.

Hamilton up to P7.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez (+18.776), Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Albon

(Getty Images)

[2 March 2024 15:58 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell pits (Lap 33/57)

2.9 sec stop for the Mercedes man for this second stop.

He drops down to ninth.... how will that play into the battle for the podium?

Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, encounters an issue with his pit stop. Something to do the wheel nut - and he drops down to P19 with a 52-second stop!

Only Logan Sargeant behind him.

[2 March 2024 15:51 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen continues to extend his lead (Lap 30/57)

Cruise control for the reigning world champion.

In the same machinery, Max Verstappen extends his lead to 15 seconds from team-mate Sergio Perez in second.

Perez is maintaining a two-second lead to Carlos Sainz in third, with George Russell now eight seconds down the road in fourth.

5-10: Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Tsunoda