Max Verstappen starts the 2024 season exactly where he left it off in 2023. The Dutchman continues to dominate as he wins the Bahrain GP with a 20+ second margin to Sergio Perez. Red Bull 1-2 with Carlos Sainz rounding up the podium positions.

As the Lap counters hit the 50-lap mark, most of the answers to the performance questions are out. Red Bull still continues to dominate in terms of race pace. Ferrari looks the second-best car in terms of race pace on both soft and hard tires. Mercedes on the soft tires looked blistering but seemed to struggle on the hards in the cold temperatures. McLaren is the 4th fastest with Aston Martin rounding up the Top 5.

Christian Horner's investigation verdict came earlier this week, as Red Bull did not find him guilty and took no further action. Today for the Main Race in Bahrain, as Christian Horner walked into the paddock, Geri Horner was spotted walking by his side

- P1 Max Verstappen - P2 Sergio Perez - P3 Carlos Sainz - P4 Charles Leclerc - P5 George Russell - P6 Lando Norris - P7 Lewis Hamilton - P8 Oscar Piastri - P9 Fernando Alonso - P10 Lance Stroll - P11 Guanyu Zhou - P12 Kevin Magnussen - P13 Daniel Ricciardo - P14 Yuki Tsunoda - P15 Alex Albon - P16 Nico Hulkenberg - P17 Esteban Ocon - P18 Pierre Gasly - P19 Valtteri Bottas - P20 Logan Sargeant

Max Verstappen is set to win the race unless there are some reliability issues. Sergio Perez in P2 and Carlos Sainz in P3. The only change in the Top 10 now looks to be the fight between George Russell and Lando Norris for P5

After a late second pitstop for Fernando Alonso, that put him outside the Top 10, Fernando Alonso gets past Lance Stroll in P9 just laps after overtaking Zhou Guanyu.

Charles Leclerc's consistent pressure pays off as George Russell locks up going into Turn 10. Leclerc holds the racing line on the straight that follows and overtakes on the inside of Turn 10.

About Half a second separates Geroge Russell and Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque tries time and time again to dive on the inside of the Mercedes going into Turn 1. Russell on the other hand is defending very well.

Max Verstappen leads the race on soft tires with a gap of 16 seconds to Sergio Perez in P2. Carlos Sainz on Hard tires finishes up the podium position. George Russell in P4 closely followed by Charles Leclerc in P5.

Red Bull is confident in the RB20's tire degradation as both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are put on the Softest rubber for the final pit stop. Max Verstappen leads by 18 seconds with Sergio Perez in P2

George Russell was the first of the Top 5 to pit for the second time. Was soon followed by the McLarens and Lewis Hamilton. The 7X champ had a great out-lap and undercut Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc was then forced to pit to cover off the threat from behind. Carlos Sainz was the last to pit on the bunch, remains P3.

Deja Vu for Valtteri Bottas. Remember the Monaco GP where Bottas' tire was ground by the pit gun? Well, he had a similar incident as the front left tire wasn't put on properly and required another nut to put the tire on

As the Lap counter hits the 30-Lap mark, Max Verstappen continues to cruise in the lead with a gap of 15+ seconds to Sergio Perez in P2. The second round of pitstops is set underway by Lance Stroll and Zhou Guanyu.

George Russell suggested his concerns about the low temperatures in Bahrain and we now know why. The Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton doesn't seem to be turning on the Hard tires in these cold temperatures. Charles Leclerc catching up Russell.

Lewis Hamilton, who's struggling on the Hard tires in P9 reports a broken seat on the radio to his team. The 7X champ said, "My seat is Broken". Will it force him to retire?

Sergio Perez asked his Engineer to shout on the radio. Checo said, "You are super quiet mate. Speak Louder! Shout! You need to shout!", as Carlos Sainz continues to catch Perez for P2

Max Verstappen leads, followed by Sergio Perez in P2, Carlos Sainz finishes up the podium position as he eeks out a lead on George Russell, who is in P4. Charles Leclerc rounds up the Top 5

Charles Leclerc radios his team about Sainz's unsafe move. Carlos Sainz meanwhile is busy making positions up as he overtakes George Russell for P3. Will he now be able to get away from the DRS range?

Carlos Sainz gets past his teammate into Turn 1. After following Charles Leclerc on the Main straight with DRS, Sainz sends it on the inside and makes an impressive move

Sergio Perez gets into effective P2 as he overtakes George Russell on the new hard tires. Checo puts the pressure in the second DRS zone, Russell cannot get his Mercedes turned in from the outside line as Perez pushes it on the inside.