© Getty ImagesMax Takes Second After Bahrain BattleMax settles for P2 in Bahrain after an epic late-race duel with defending world champion Lewis Hamilton, while Sergio fought back from a pit lane start to claim a brilliant P5 at the flag.
There was drama before the start when Checo slowed at the end of the formation lap and pulled over at the side of the track on the approach to the final corner. The Mexican’s steering display was blank and it looked like he had suffered a power loss. He was able to get power back, however, and as a second formation lap got underway he steered his RB16B into the pit lane from where he’d start the race.
When the lights went out Max got away well from pole position and held the lead ahead of Hamilton into turn one. Behind them, third-on-the-grid Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes was passed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but further back Haas’ Nikita Mazepin went off track at turn three and hit the barriers. The safety car was released and during the neutralisation, Checo pitted for another set of used medium tyres.
Lights Out And Away We Go!© Getty Images
When the action resumed, Max controlled the restart and after a short virtual safety car period caused by AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly clipping Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren and losing his front wing, the Dutchman began to build a slim lead that by lap 13 had reached 1.7 seconds.
Checo, meanwhile, was on the march and by lap 10 he was up to P12 and when Alpine’s Fernando Alonso sparked a flurry of early pit stops, Sergio rose rapidly through the order and within a couple of laps was up to P4 as the soft-tyre starters ahead pitted for new rubber.
With 14 laps gone, Mercedes went for the undercut and Hamilton pitted for a set of hard tyres. The Team opted not to react to the move and Max stayed out as the Mercedes driver attempted to close the gap.
Bottas made his first stop soon after, with the Finn also taking hard tyres, and then Max made his first stop on lap 18. The Dutchman bolted on a second set of medium tyres, but as he left the pit lane, Hamilton swept past to take the lead. Botttas then passed Checo who was struggling on his ageing tyres and the Mexican soon pitted for new rubber.
Driver Of The Day For Checo© Getty Images
At the front, the gap between Hamilton and Max ebbed and flowed across the second stint, but at the end of lap 28, Hamilton again pushed the strategic agenda by pitting for another set of hard tyres to avoid any potential undercut from Max.
That put the Dutch driver back into the lead and a lap later Bottas pitted. The Finn’s pit stop was troubled though as his crew struggled with a stuck front right wheel. After 10.9 seconds stationary Bottas re-joined in P5 behind Leclerc. Next, it was Sergio's turn to make his final stop and the Mexican took on hard tyres on lap 38.
At the front Max’s lap times were flagging and as Hamilton made gains on his fresher hard tyres, the Team called the Dutchman in at end of lap 39 for hard tyres.
That put Hamilton back into the lead but when Max re-joined on 10-lap newer tyres, the Mercedes driver was just over eight seconds ahead.
Max immediately began to close the gap and by lap 47 he was just over three seconds behind the world champion. Behind them, Checo was also making good use of his fresh hard tyres and by the same lap he was up to P6 and five seconds behind Leclerc.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2021: Race
Max During The Battle On Track© Getty Images
Pit Lane Start For Perez© Getty Images
Checo Makes His Move On Vettel© Getty Images
Checo Holds Off Bottas© Getty Images
Max Gets Ready Pre-Race© Getty Images
Max Comes In For Mediums© Getty Images
Pit Lane To P5© Getty Images
Max With The Second Place Silverware© Getty Images
Max On The Medium Tyre© Getty Images
Max Pits For A Fresh Set Of Tyres© Getty Images
Leading The Back At The Start© Getty Images
Checo Charges Through The Field© Getty Images
Picking Up P2 On The Podium© Getty Images
Max was now closing right up to Hamilton and when the Briton locked up on lap 51, the Bull got to within DRS range. He quickly went on the offensive and tried a bold move around the outside of Hamilton. He got past the Mercedes but did so off track and had to give back the position.
Max recovered to once again go on the attack but in the final laps Hamilton did just enough to keep the Red Bull at bay, leaving Max to take P2 and the podium. P3 was taken by Valtteri Bottas and P4 by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Checo’s final stint was also profitable and in the closing stages he reeled in Leclerc to take P5 at the flag just five seconds behind Norris.
Behind Leclerc, P7 went to the second McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo. Carlos Sainz P8 in the second Ferrari. AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda scored two points on his debut with P9 and the last point on offer went to Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
A Solid Start To The Season© Getty Images
“We definitely made good steps forward today but it’s of course a shame not to get the win. We were having to manage a couple of issues throughout the race which I had to drive around so we will have to look into that but there are positives to take from today and the whole weekend. Mercedes did the undercut but we stuck to our strategy which was working fine, the problem is that with these cars, it’s so hard to pass and once you have that track position it’s pretty powerful. As soon as I got close enough to Lewis I had one shot and I just went outside of the track at Turn 4 so I gave the position back, but by then my tyres weren’t in a good state anymore to put the pressure on.
We have to look at the positives, we are taking the fight to Mercedes and I think that’s great.
"We have to look at the positives, we are taking the fight to Mercedes and I think that’s great, it’s good to start the season this way and we managed to score some good points for the Team. We will analyse what we can do better as there are always things you can improve and it’s great to get Honda’s 200th podium this weekend. Now it’s full focus on the next race.”
“Considering my race almost didn’t happen today, I think overall we can be pleased with today and take away the positives as the pace was really good and the potential is there. On the formation lap, all of a sudden the car shut down and I was so close to jumping out but I stayed in and somehow the car got going again which was a miracle really. That meant we had to start from the pit lane which wasn’t ideal but we managed to recover and I was just happy to complete the race and get that important mileage under my belt. It was really important to get that and of course it is a shame that Max didn’t win the race for the Team but it will come I’m sure and we will get there. We’ve got a lot of data to analyse now so that we understand everything and make sure we come back stronger at the next race in Imola.”
Max drove his heart out as always and we can’t ask for anything more than that.
“First of all, congratulations to Mercedes, it was a great race today. We are all racers in this Team and to lose by such a small margin obviously hurts but the positive is that we have put in a strong performance all weekend and pushed Mercedes all the way. Max was nursing an issue from early on, how much of an affect that had during the race I’m not sure but he drove his heart out as always and we can’t ask for anything more than that. He got the pass done to re-gain the lead but ran out wide and was instructed to give the place back, which he did immediately and then he pushed Lewis to the line.
Hats off to Sergio as well in what was a great comeback drive for him, especially after starting in the pit lane. "Hats off to Sergio as well in what was a great comeback drive for him, especially after starting in the pit lane. He kept a cool calm head after the issue on the Formation Lap and was able to deliver a strong points haul. I think the biggest winner today is the fans, this race sets up a great season and I really hope we see Lewis and Max have many more battles. The fact that we’ve been so competitive this weekend is a good signal for the championship. If we’re frustrated with second place, then that’s not a bad place to be and shows the determination within the Team. We're certainly in the fight and ready to take on the season.”
| Position | Driver | Team | | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. |
| Lewis Hamilton | Max Verstappen | Valtteri Bottas | Lando Norris | Sergio Pérez | Charles Leclerc | Daniel Ricciardo | Carlos Sainz | Yuki Tsunoda | Lance Stroll |
| Mercedes | Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | McLaren | Red Bull Racing Honda | Ferrari | McLaren | Ferrari | AlphaTauri | Aston Martin |
