Max Verstappen has won the last eight Formula 1 Grand Prix, dating back to Japan last year.
It’s a super start for Super Max.
Defending three-time world champion Max Verstappen had a dream start to his 2024 Formula 1 season, winning a relatively stress-free Bahran Grand Prix early Sunday morning (PHL).
It was a trifecta for Max as he started on pole, won the Grand Prix, and achieved fastest lap in a clinical display of dominance.
Verstappen fought off an early challenge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell from the start, and it was cruise control for the majority of the race, winning with a margin of over 22 seconds.
Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez came in second, with Checo working his way past both Ferraris and Russell as he started from 5th on the grid.
It’s the first 1-2 for Red Bull since Monza, and the RB20 looks primed to dominate the year like the all-conquering RB19 before it.
The win is Verstappen’s 55th, and 8th straight in a new streak that started in Japan last year. Verstappen has won 18 of the last 19 races.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was third, overtaking teammate Leclerc twice to start his final season with the Scuderia with a podium.
In the Constructors’ Championship, defending two-time champion Red Bull take the early lead with 44 points followed but Ferrari with 27 and Mercedes with 16.
McLaren are fourth with 12 and Aston Martin are fifth with 3 as the only point scorers from the first race of the year.