2023 Bahrain Grand Prix

The (officially the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023) was the 1st round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held at Bahrain International Circuit on the weekend of March 3 to March 5 2023.
__TOC__
==Background==
=== Track changes ===
The third DRS activation point was moved farther ahead, being positioned after turn 15.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
Official Entry List of 
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Max Verstappen 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB19 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
2 	Logan Sargeant 	Williams Racing 	 	FW45 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
4 	Lando Norris 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL37 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A523 	 	E-Tech RE23 1.6L V6t 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB19 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR23 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	SF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR23 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
21 	Nyck de Vries 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT04 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT04 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	Williams Racing 	 	FW45 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake 	 	C43 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
27 	Nico Hulkenberg 	MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A523 	 	E-Tech RE23 1.6L V6t 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W14 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	SF-23 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
63 	George Russell 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W14 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake 	 	C43 	 	066/10 1.6L V6t 	
81 	Oscar Piastri 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL37 	 	F1 M14 1.6L V6t 	
Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Practice==
===FP1===
===FP2===
===FP3===
===Practice Results===
The full practice results for the are outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Team 	FP1 	FP1 	FP2 	FP2 	FP3 	FP3 	 	 	 	 	
No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	 	 	 	 	
1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:33.375 	3 	1:31.076 	2 	1:32.345 	2 	 	 	 	 	
2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	1:35.749 	18 	1:32.749 	20 	1:33.665 	18 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:34.165 	4 	1:31.570 	9 	1:33.202 	13 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:35.455 	17 	1:31.475 	7 	1:33.064 	10 	 	 	 	 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:32.758 	1 	1:31.078 	3 	1:32.446 	3 	 	 	 	 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:33.196 	2 	1:30.907 	1 	1:32.340 	1 	 	 	 	 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:34.257 	5 	1:31.367 	4 	1:32.624 	5 	 	 	 	 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:34.298 	6 	1:31.450 	6 	1:32.919 	7 	 	 	 	 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:34.402 	7 	1:32.110 	16 	1:33.391 	14 	 	 	 	 	
21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	1:35.402 	16 	1:32.605 	19 	1:34.082 	20 	 	 	 	 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:35.015 	13 	1:32.525 	18 	1:33.475 	16 	 	 	 	 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:36.018 	19 	1:32.440 	17 	1:33.882 	19 	 	 	 	 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:34.575 	8 	1:31.586 	10 	1:33.180 	12 	 	 	 	 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:35.043 	14 	1:31.376 	5 	1:33.423 	15 	 	 	 	 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:35.105 	15 	1:31.608 	11 	1:33.116 	11 	 	 	 	 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:34.917 	10 	1:31.543 	8 	1:32.555 	4 	 	 	 	 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:36.072 	20 	1:31.956 	14 	1:32.945 	8 	 	 	 	 	
63 	George Russell 	 	1:34.966 	11 	1:31.882 	13 	1:32.731 	6 	 	 	 	 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:34.689 	9 	1:31.793 	12 	1:33.629 	17 	 	 	 	 	
81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	1:34.997 	12 	1:32.024 	15 	1:33.045 	9 	 	 	 	 	
Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P2%20Classification.pdf - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.%20-%20P3%20Classification.pdf - FP3 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
=== Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Official Qualifying Result of 
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	Q1 	Q2 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Time 	Time 	Grid
1 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:31.295 	1:30.503 	1:29.708 	1
2 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:31.479 	1:30.747 	1:29.846 	2
3 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:31.094 	1:30.282 	1:30.000 	3
4 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:30.993 	1:30.515 	1:30.154 	4
5 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:31.158 	1:30.645 	1:30.336 	5
6 	63 	George Russell 	 	1:31.057 	1:30.507 	1:30.340 	6
7 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:31.057 	1:30.513 	1:30.384 	7
8 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:31.184 	1:31.127 	1:30.836 	8
9 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:31.508 	1:30.914 	1:30.984 	9
10 	17 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:31.204 	1:30.809 	No Time 	10
11 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:31.652 	1:31.381 	N/A 	11
12 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:31.504 	1:31.443 	N/A 	12
13 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:31.615 	1:31.473 	N/A 	13
14 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:31.400 	1:32.510 	N/A 	14
15 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:31.461 	No Time 	N/A 	15
16 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	1:31.652 	N/A 	N/A 	16
17 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:31.892 	N/A 	N/A 	17
18 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	1:32.101 	N/A 	N/A 	18
19 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	1:32.121 	N/A 	N/A 	19
20 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:32.181 	N/A 	N/A 	20
107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1: 	107% Time: 1:
Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:20-%20Final%20Qualifying%20Classification.pdf - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
===Grid===
Show Grid
==Race==
===Report===
Race was held on 5 March 2023 at 18:00 local time (UTC+3).
Verstappen led comfortably from the start, only losing the lead during the first round of pitstops. Pérez was slow away at the start and lost second place to a fast starting Charles Leclerc. Alonso and Hamilton battled on the run down to turn 4, however Alonso was hit by his teammate Stroll, causing both s to lose positions. Alonso came out on top in a wheel-to-wheel battle with George Russell on lap 13, however both drivers lost out in the pitstops to Valtteri Bottas’ .
Oscar Piastri retired 13 laps into his F1 debut with an electrical failure. Meanwhile, his teammate Norris also had engine issues, but this time with the hydraulics, requiring 5 pitstops to manage the problem. Esteban Ocon had a nightmare start to his season, picking up a 5-second penalty for lining up in his grid spot incorrectly. However he did not serve the full 5 seconds in the pits, and was given a subsequent 10 second penalty, and then a further 5 second penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
Perez made it past Leclerc on lap 26, with the ’s the only front running team to use the soft tyre for both the first two tyre stints. After the second round of pitstops, Stroll, who was racing with a broken wrist and toe, overtook Russell as the latter came out of the pits on cold tyres, with Stroll having pitted a lap earlier. Alonso and Hamilton engaged in a battle for 5th place, Alonso overtook Hamilton into turn 4 on lap 37 but a snap of oversteer on the corner exit for Alonso allowed Hamilton back passed. One lap later Alonso pulled off an unlikely overtake at turn 10. 
Leclerc's race came to an end on lap 39, his car suffering a mechanical failure, bringing out the first virtual safety car of the season. Alonso overtook Sainz using DRS on the run down to turn 11 on lap 45. Meanwhile Gasly overtook Albon for 9th place, having started from last.
Zhou Guanyu pitted on the penultimate lap for soft tyres, and set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap. Making it the second fastest lap of Zhou Guanyu's F1 career. 
Verstappen took the chequered flag, winning by almost 12 seconds from his teammate Perez. It was Verstappen's second win in succession, and Perez's highest finish since the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix. Alonso took the final podium spot, his first podium since the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, and Aston Martin's first podium since Sebastian Vettel finished 2nd at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Logan Sargeant was the highest finisher of the rookie drivers, finishing 12th.
The race marked Red Bull's first win in Bahrain since 2013, and Verstappen's first win at the track. It was also Red Bull's first win at a season opener since the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Official Race Results of 
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	57 	1:33:56.736 	1 	25
2 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	57 	+11.987 	2 	18
3 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	57 	+38.637 	5 	15
4 	55 	Carlos Sainz Jr. 	 	57 	+48.052 	4 	12
5 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	57 	+50.977 	7 	10
6 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	57 	+54.502 	8 	8
7 	63 	George Russell 	 	57 	+55.873 	6 	6
8 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	57 	+1:12.647 	12 	4
9 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	57 	+1:13.753 	20 	2
10 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	57 	+1:29.774 	15 	1
11 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	56 	+1:30.870 	14 	
12 	2 	Logan Sargeant 	 	56 	+1 lap 	16 	
13 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	56 	+1 lap 	17 	
14 	21 	Nyck de Vries 	 	56 	+1 lap 	19 	
15 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	56 	+1 lap Nico Hülkenberg received a 15-second time penalty for exceeding track limits. His final position was not affected by the penalty.	10 	
16 	24 	Zhou Guanyu 	 	56 	+1 lap 	13 	
17 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	55 	+2 laps 	11 	
Ret 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	41 	Mechanical 	9 	
Ret 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	39 	Engine 	3 	
Ret 	81 	Oscar Piastri 	 	13 	Electrical 	18 	
Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Final%20Race%20Classification.pdf - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Milestones== 
*Début race of Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant
*First race of Nyck de Vries, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg as an AlphaTauri, Aston Martin, Alpine and Haas driver respectively.
*This would be the first race that Fernando Alonso drives a -powered car since the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix
*This would be the first time that Nyck de Vries, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg drives a , and -powered car respectively.
*99th podium finish in Fernando Alonso’s career.
**Maiden podium of Fernando Alonso as an driver.
==Standings==
World Drivers' Championship	World Drivers' Championship	World Drivers' Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts
 	Max Verstappen 	25
 	Sergio Pérez 	18
 	Fernando Alonso 	15
4th 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	12
5th 	Lewis Hamilton 	10
6th 	Lance Stroll 	8
7th 	George Russell 	6
8th 	Valtteri Bottas 	4
9th 	Pierre Gasly 	2
10th 	Alexander Albon 	1
Note: Only point-scoring drivers are shown
World Constructors' Championship	World Constructors' Championship	World Constructors' Championship
Pos. 	Constructor 	Pts
 	 	43
 	 	23
 	 	16
4th 	 	12
5th 	 	4
6th 	 	2
7th 	 	1
Note: Only point-scoring constructors are shown
==See Also==
==References==
Images and Videos: 
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Bahrain Grand Prix
Category:2023 Grands Prix