Verstappen demonstrated what was widely anticipated, confirming that he and his RB20 will be formidable competitors for the second consecutive Formula 1 season. He began his title defense campaign at the Sakhir Circuit with a commanding victory, just as everyone expected.
In fact, Verstappen, who emerged victorious in Bahrain in 2023, managed to replicate his triumph this year, completing the race in a shorter time than the previous year (two minutes faster). This impressive display of dominance is rarely seen in the sport, as the driver and the machine merged into one.
During the qualifying session, the RB20, with Verstappen at the helm, proved to be incredibly fast, outpacing Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari by more than two tenths of a second. Even during the race, the Red Bull Racing combination proved to be efficient and quick, with the RB20 being gentle on its tires.
Verstappen opted to start the race on used Soft tires and was the last driver in the top ten to switch to a new set of Hards. Alongside his teammate Sergio Perez, he was one of only two drivers who chose to use Soft tires for their final stint, while others went for Hards.
In Red Bull’s race report, Verstappen shared his thoughts on the race, stating, “Today was a special one. These kinds of days are rare, where the car feels perfect, including its balance and overall feel. Everything went really well.” He also mentioned that the start of the race was good and that they took great care of the car throughout. Verstappen was able to find a good rhythm and pace on the track, and the wind conditions helped him extract even more from the car.
Looking ahead to the next race, Verstappen acknowledged that Jeddah is a different challenge, with its high-speed corners and less tire degradation. However, he expressed confidence in bringing the same level of performance to the upcoming race. Verstappen thanked everyone at the factory for their contributions to a successful start of the season, acknowledging the difficulty of building a new car after an incredible previous season.
Verstappen and Red Bull have downplayed their form since pre-season testing, intentionally keeping their true pace hidden until qualifying. The triple F1 champion repeatedly emphasized that winning would not be easy due to the competitiveness of the grid. While the grid was indeed closely matched, Verstappen and his #1 RB20 finished the race over 20 seconds ahead of the other Red Bull car driven by Sergio Perez, securing the team’s second consecutive one-two finish in Bahrain.
There is no reason to anticipate a different outcome in Jeddah.