Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez took his fifth F1® win by converting pole to victory in Jeddah, one year after being denied a chance of victory by an unfortunately-timed safety car when leading.
Max Verstappen made it a second 1-2 in as many races for Red Bull after starting 15th following a driveshaft failure in qualifying. Fernando Alonso was third for Aston Martin, the Spaniard keeping his 100th career podium after a time penalty for incorrectly serving a penalty at his pit stop was overturned three hours after the race.
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Oscar watch
An outstanding effort in qualifying by Oscar Piastri – he made Q3 for the first time and started eighth after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change – counted for little for the Melburnian in the 50-lap race, first-lap contact with Alpine's Pierre Gasly necessitating a pit stop for a new front wing.
He eventually finished 15th, passing McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Williams' Logan Sargeant in the final three laps.
Unsung hero
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who took the first points of the year for the American team with a fighting drive from 13th on the grid to 10th, passing AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda for the final point at Turn 1 with four laps left.
Number to know
2: Perez joins Jean Alesi as the only drivers in history to have multiple career pole positions but all at the same venue (Alesi also had two career poles, both at Monza).
We really did a job in the first stint but that safety car – again – tried to take the victory out of us again in Jeddah, but not this time.
Bahrain Grand Prix: top 10
1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) 1hr 21mins 14.894secs
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) + 5.355secs
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +20.728secs
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +25.866secs
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +31.065secs
6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +35.876secs
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +43.162secs
8. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +52.832secs
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +54.747secs
10. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +64.826secs
Standings (top 5)
Drivers' championship
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 44 points
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) 43 points
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 30 points
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 20 points
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 20 points
Constructors' championship
1. Red Bull Racing (87 points)
2. Aston Martin (38 points)
3. Mercedes (38 points)
4. Ferrari (26 points)
5. Alpine (8 points)
Next race
Round 3: Australia (Albert Park), Mar 30-Apr 2
