The Bahrain Grand Prix kicked off the 2024 Formula 1 season in spectacular fashion, with Max Verstappen claiming victory for Red Bull Racing. The post-race press conference saw the top three drivers—Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Carlos Sainz—reflect on their performances and the challenges faced during the race.
Verstappen’s Masterclass and Red Bull’s Performance
Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his win, highlighting the car’s performance in managing windy conditions and tire wear. He acknowledged that other teams are closer in performance and expects a tougher challenge in future races. The Dutch driver was surprised by George Russell’s comments about the gap in qualifying and emphasized the team’s focus on improvement.
“Today everything just went really well. The balance, the feeling for myself in the car. And that is not always like that. I mean, sometimes you win races, but you’re maybe not very happy with how you were feeling with the car or the balance of the car. But yeah, today that was all very good.”
Perez’s Gritty Second Place and Team’s Resilience
Sergio Perez, who finished second, was pleased with his progress from fifth on the grid and the team’s overall performance. He had to manage the gap to Sainz in the final stage of the race due to degradation issues but managed to maintain his position.
Perez commented: “I think the whole first stint between Mercedes, Ferrari, and myself was very racy throughout, so I think that changing DRS is making a difference. I think a lot of strategy comes into play, you know, especially with how sensitive the tires are to pushing, so on one side you want to push to get out of DRS or to get into DRS, and then, on the other hand, you want to save tires because we all know how sensitive the tires are, so it’s a very fine line.”
Sainz’s Determination and Ferrari’s Progress
The Spaniard emphasized the importance of starting the season well and having a strong race after spending much of the previous year defending. Despite experiencing brake issues during the race, he felt comfortable with his overtaking moves and hopes for stronger performances on tracks that suit the car better.
“Red Bull’s advantage in Bahrain was clear, especially in how they managed the soft tires. But I’m confident that we can close the gap as the season goes on.”
DRS and Car Development
The drivers also discussed the impact of changes to the Drag Reduction System (DRS) on racing. They noted that the altered DRS rules have changed the dynamics of racing, particularly in terms of overtaking.
Verstappen praised the improvements made to the Red Bull car for the 2024 season, noting that it feels better to drive and has shown a strong performance in the early days of pre-season testing.
Carlos Sainz added: “Last year, we could do well in qualifying but struggled more in the races. I hope this year’s car is a step forward in that regard. I felt good about it today, but we still have work to do.”
As the teams prepare for the next race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, they will undoubtedly be analyzing their performance in Bahrain and making adjustments to improve their competitiveness.
Whether Red Bull Racing can maintain its early-season dominance or if other teams can close the gap remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Formula 1 fans are in for an exhilarating season of racing.