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 15:09 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell overtakes Charles Leclerc!

Terrific move from George Russell, who takes Charles Leclerc into turn four and takes second place with it!

Did the Ferrari make a mistake?

Top-10 after three laps: Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Hamilton, Tsunoda

(Getty Images)

[2 March 2024 15:07 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: DRS enabled

New for this year - DRS is enabled after just one lap instead of two!

Leclerc, however is already outside of that.

[2 March 2024 15:05 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen keeps the lead at turn one!

Terrific start from Max Verstappen off the line, who holds off an ambitious challenge on the outside from Charles Leclerc!

George Russell just holds off Sergio Perez to keep third.

Front wing damage for Hulkenberg, who has dropped from sixth to 19th! There was an incident at turn one in the midfield...

(Getty Images)

[2 March 2024 15:02 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Formation lap!

All 20 drivers on the soft tyre as we get underway with the formation lap.

Will anyone challenge Verstappen down into turn one?

Here we go then!

[2 March 2024 14:58 · Kieran Jackson]

A reminder of the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Charles Leclerc

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Sergio Perez

6. Fernando Alonso

7. Lando Norris

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Lance Stroll

13. Alex Albon

14. Daniel Ricciardo

15. Kevin Magnussen

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Zhou Guanyu

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Esteban Ocon

20. Pierre Gasly

[2 March 2024 14:55 · Sonia Twigg]

Guenther Steiner secures new job in F1 after Haas exit

And a reminder about Steiner:

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner will return to work in F1 as a pundit for German broadcaster RTL.

Steiner lost his job at Haas in January after eight seasons leading the American team in Formula 1, with team owner Gene Haas opting for a change with trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu promoted to team boss.

Yet Steiner, known for his colourful language and entertaining appearances on Netflix’s Drive to Survive, has now found a new job with RTL, who broadcast F1 in Germany.

[2 March 2024 14:52 · Sonia Twigg]

Former Haas principal says who he believes will be the race winner

Guenther Steiner to Sky Sports: “It’s good to be here, I wasn’t supposed to be here two weeks ago.”

When asked who his money was on Steiner said: “Max.”

[2 March 2024 14:50 · Sonia Twigg]

Lando Norris starting in P7

Lando Norris has spoken to Sky Sports: “I mean we’re just in a pack that is very close, but I made a mistake and paid the price and I was seventh. It can easily go our way, it can easily go someone else’s way but it should be exciting.

“If things go in our way, there are a lot of cars that we have to overtake (to get podium) and especially the Red Bulls and the Ferraris are very strong so...”

[2 March 2024 14:44 · Kieran Jackson]

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Winner odds!

Max Verstappen - 2/13

Charles Leclerc - 9/1

Sergio Perez, George Russell - 20/1

Carlos Sainz - 25/1

Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton - 40/1

Lando Norris - 50/1

Oscar Piastri - 66/1

Odds provided by Grosvenor Casinos

[2 March 2024 14:39 · Kieran Jackson]

Nico Hulkenberg starting in P6:

“I feel good that the season starts, optimistic that the Sunday will be better than last year, excited to see what we can do today.

“Hopeful for a bit more performance.”

A standout performance from the German in qualifying.