Verstappen Opens with a Win as Red Bull Takes 1-2 in Bahrain

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with the winner's trophy on the podium after the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on March 5, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with the winner's trophy on the podium after the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on March 5, 2023. (AFP)
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Verstappen Opens with a Win as Red Bull Takes 1-2 in Bahrain

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with the winner's trophy on the podium after the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on March 5, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with the winner's trophy on the podium after the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on March 5, 2023. (AFP)

New season, another victory. Max Verstappen won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday, leading almost the entire race as he opened the defense of his back-to-back Formula One titles.

Red Bull also clinched a dominant 1-2 with Sergio Perez finishing second while 41-year-old Fernando Alonso took a brilliant third place — and claimed a 99th career podium — on a stunning race debut for Aston Martin.

“I'm so proud of you guys,” a jubilant Alonso told his team.

It was Verstappen's 36th career win but the Dutchman's first at the flood-lit Sakhir circuit, where he retired just laps from the end in last year's opening race.

“That was exactly the start to the season we needed,” Verstappen said.

This time it was Charles Leclerc, after winning last year, who retired on Lap 41 of 57 when his Ferrari lost power.

“No, no, no, no,” pleaded Leclerc over his radio as his car slowed to a stop. Ferrari had changed an engine battery before the race but that didn't stop Leclerc from making a dismal start to the year after such a frustrating season in 2022.

“There was just no more power. It’s a pity because it’s at these weekends where you have to maximize points,” Leclerc said. “Unfortunately, we’ve taken a step back and Red Bull’s on another planet. Third was the best we could hope for.”

Leclerc's retirement caused panic at Ferrari, and Carlos Sainz Jr. didn't even bother trying to defend from Alonso — probably through concern he might lose power himself — and Aston Martin overtook him with 11 laps left.

Sainz finished fourth ahead of seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in fifth place ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in sixth. Hamilton's teammate George Russell was seventh for Mercedes.

Verstappen started from the pole with Perez alongside him. Leclerc and Sainz were on the second row with Alonso going from fifth.

Logan Sargeant, the first American driver on the grid since 2015, was 12th after starting from 16th.

Stroll's performance was impressive considering he missed preseason testing because of an injury picked up in a bicycle accident that required minor surgery on his right wrist.



At Wimbledon, Portuguese Tennis Players Pay Tribute to Diogo Jota with Black Ribbon

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2025 Portugal's Francisco Cabral reacts during his second round doubles match with Austria's Lucas Miedler against Czech Republic's Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2025 Portugal's Francisco Cabral reacts during his second round doubles match with Austria's Lucas Miedler against Czech Republic's Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
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At Wimbledon, Portuguese Tennis Players Pay Tribute to Diogo Jota with Black Ribbon

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2025 Portugal's Francisco Cabral reacts during his second round doubles match with Austria's Lucas Miedler against Czech Republic's Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2025 Portugal's Francisco Cabral reacts during his second round doubles match with Austria's Lucas Miedler against Czech Republic's Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

Diogo Jota was remembered at Wimbledon on Friday as two Portuguese players wore a black ribbon on their all-white attire during their matches, a day after the Liverpool winger and his brother were killed in a car crash.

The All England Club has a strict dress code for players while on court but permission to wear the ribbon was granted after the two soccer players died in the crash in Spain.

Nuno Borges, who at No. 37 is Portugal's highest-ranked tennis player, attached a ribbon to his hat for his third-round match against Karen Khachanov on No. 3 Court.

Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon on his left sleeve during a doubles match.