Max Verstappen, starting from pole position, completely controlled the race, securing the victory with a lead of over 20 seconds.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, suggested that his team’s perceived advantage over their Formula 1 rivals during the Bahrain Grand Prix may not accurately represent the true competitive landscape.
Horner suggested that the choice to use the soft tire in the second phase of the race may have “exaggerated” their lead compared to the rest of the field.
The defending champions started the 2024 season positively, achieving a 1-2 in Bahrain, marking their first such achievement since the 2023 Italian Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez made an impressive recovery from fifth place to secure second position, ahead of the two Ferraris.
Despite Red Bull’s strong start to the season, Horner remains cautious about drawing definitive conclusions.
He expects the competition to “converge” as the season progresses, emphasizing the variability of factors in different locations and conditions.
Horner highlighted Red Bull’s strategic tire choice as a key element in their performance, noting that they were the only team among the top ten to opt for soft tires for the final phase.
He suggested that this decision may have artificially widened the gap between Red Bull and their rivals.
Acknowledging the team’s success in Bahrain, Horner emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective in a long and dynamic season.
He praised Verstappen’s dominant performance and Perez’s impressive recovery, but also acknowledged that the final result may have been influenced by tire strategies.
In conclusion, while Red Bull celebrated a strong start to the season with a convincing victory in Bahrain, Horner remains cautious about attributing too much importance to the result of a single race.
He expects a tighter competition as the season unfolds, with teams adapting to various challenges and conditions at different circuits.
