F1: Three things we learnt from Bahrain GP 2023

Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez took the first two positions on the podium.

The lights out at Sakhir kicked off the 2023 season of Formula 1. A few things went as expected while some were a few short of expectations. Red Bull secured 1-2, Max Verstappen got his 36th F1 win, Alonso got his first podium since Qatar 2021, Aston Martin got only their second podium, and a lot happened. But what did we learn from Bahrain GP, the opening race of the season?

Max Verstappen is here to dominate.

Verstappen has entered 2023 as the double-defending champion. Following the Bahrain GP, it looks like he is once again set to dominate the season. Mercedes driver George Russell even said that he would bet on Red Bull winning every race of the season.

With the qualifying time of 1:29.708, the Dutchman secured season's first pole. He and his teammate Sergio Perez were the only ones to breach the 1:30s mark. Right from the lights out, Verstappen led the race and no one was seen anywhere near him.

With 36 F1 wins to his name, he is now coming for Ayrton Senna's 41.

Aston Martin will compete with whom?

Following the testing and free practice sessions, the Aston Martin hype train has been real. Fernando Alonso qualified fifth following Saturday's qualifying session. He placed his Aston Martin ahead of their supplier Mercedes. It's still the first race of the season but it remains to be seen which zone will the resurgent Aston Martin compete in.

Red Bull has been in a league of their own since the start of 2022. Even in the opening race, they were untouchable. Ferrari hasn't been displayed fully. As per the Bahrain GP race, Mercedes looks like the most direct competitor of the Astons. But Mercedes weren't the best looking either. Talking about Mercedes, the simplest conclusion is that they need to do much more.

True Ferrari is yet to be revealed

A part of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari flew away during the first qualifying session. Whereas he didn't complete his final flying lap in Q3 of the Bahrain GP - costing him P2.

Post qualification, he revealed that he didn't quit the final flying lap because of an issue. It's just that he preferred to start third with new tyres than start the first row with old tyres.

Cut to Lap 41, Leclerc's car went off and he was out of the race. Later on, Sainz's degradation got the better of him. Which allowed the speeding Fernando Alonso to pass and he was about to be engulfed by Lewis Hamilton.