Verstappen leads dominant Red Bull one-two as Alonso races to third · RaceFans

Max Verstappen started the 2023 season in dominant fashion for Red Bull, leading home team mate Sergio Perez as Fernando Alonso took a podium for Aston Martin in third.

The reigning world champions never looked under pressure during the race, with both Red Bull drivers holding almost half a minute of advantage over the rest of the field.

The 20 cars lined up on the grid for the first time for Formula 1’s longest-ever season, with the two Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez leading the field from the front row. When the five lights vanished to begin the 2023 season, Verstappen led away but Charles Leclerc beat Perez on the run to turn one, moving into second place with Carlos Sainz Jnr remaining fourth. Alonso dropped from fifth to seventh behind the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell after he was hit by team mate Lance Stroll from behind at turn four.

Verstappen quickly built a gap over Leclerc ahead, gaining an advantage of over four seconds from Leclerc by the end of the fifth lap. By lap 11, the Mercedes were struggling with tyre wear, with Alonso able to put Russell under intense pressure for sixth place. Hamilton pitted at the end of lap 12, while Alonso passed Russell to move into fifth after battling over the first sector.

Verstappen pitted at the end of lap 15, fitting a new set of softs, while Alonso also stopped for hard tyres, rejoining behind Hamilton but with Valtteri Bottas jumping ahead of him into sixth. Perez remained out on his softs until the end of lap 17, also pitting for a second set of used softs and rejoining back in third. Alonso and Russell both overtook the Alfa Romeo ahead of them to move back up into sixth and seventh, respectively.

With the advantage of soft tyres, Perez reeled in Leclerc in second place. At the start of lap 26, Perez was within DRS range and slipstreamed up to the the back of the Ferrari, pulling to the inside and moving up into second place. Perez easily began pulling away from Leclerc, while the gap to leader Verstappen was over ten seconds.

Hamilton and Stroll were the first of the leaders to pit at the end of lap 31, both moving onto fresh hard tyres. Russell pitted a lap later, but was caught by Stroll on his way out of the pits and the Aston Martin driver was through into turn four, moving up to seventh. Meanwhile, Ferrari pitted both of their drivers.

Red Bull pitted Perez first on lap 34 for hards, before Perez followed two laps later, retaining his comfortable lead. Behind, Alonso had…