Verstappen claims first win of the year in chaotic Bahrain GP

Fourtime world champion Max Verstappen secured his and Red Bulls first win this year with an imperious drive Sunday in chaotic conditions in a stormdelayed Bahrain Grand Prix in MalaysiaNine years after winning the last F1 race at the Sepang International Circuit the 29yearold Dutchman came through a wild afternoon of accidents and incidents for his 72nd victory and first since Abu Dhabi last year In a race of shifting tyre strategies he came home 2307 seconds ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes and seventime champion Lewis Hamilton who took third after a thrilling recovery driveHis Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was fourth having fallen to last place in the early laps ahead of Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull McLarens Oscar Piastri and the Racing Bull of Liam Lawson Twotime champion Fernando Alonso finished a seasonbest eighth for Aston Martin ahead of world champion Lando Norris and Racing Bull rookie Arvid Lindblad The result extended Antonellis lead to 84 points ahead of teammate George Russell who retired after a late power failure under a safety car It is really nice to win after the year weve had and all the progression weve made said a delighted VerstappenIt was very hectic with a lot of different things but we made the right call with the inters intermediate tyres Antonelli congratulated him and added It was the maximum we could have done We struggled but I am happy to come away with P2 Russell though said he was beyond disappointment as luck deserted him late in the race Youve almost got to laugh its just so many times this season its happened I dont need to say I think its gone but of course its exceptionally unlikely and thats just the realityTough raceHamilton was greeted by a roar from the big crowd What a tough race that was he said I was more than a minute back after we made the wrong call on tyres at the start and everyone was pulling away The race had followed a protracted 100minute delay following a tropical rainstorm and began with half the field on intermediate tyres Both Mercedes promptly swamped Verstappen Antonelli taking the lead in turn one followed by Russell Hamilton on soft slicks had no grip and tumbled down the order from second on the grid as it became clear that the conditions remained treacherousIt all changed on lap nine when Valtteri Bottas slid off into the gravel and the safety car was deployed bringing nearly everyone in for dry tyres with Antonelli taking mediums and Verstappen softs Hamilton stayed out and upon the resumption Verstappen pounced to sweep round Antonelli and regain a lead he would not relinquishHamilton continued his recovery slicing through the field and by lap 23 had dispensed with Lawson to take fifth He closed up within six seconds of the Frenchman before the pair pitted on lap 31 This tyre feels terrible said Hamilton of his new mediums A late virtual and then full safety car saw everyone pit for fresh softs Russells retirement enabled Hamilton to get on to the podium when he passed Hadjar in the final fourlap dash to the chequered flagThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever