Verstappen leads F1 Bahrain Grand Prix after near collision with Leclerc

Max Verstappen managed to get away fastest on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix, racing away from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc as two drivers came together into turn one.

Lance Stroll started his 2024 off in poor fashion, failing to get into Q3 on Friday, before getting entangled with the lower midfield right at the start of Saturday's race.

He spun around having made contact with the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, who needed to pit at the end of the first lap following front wing damage in the collision.

This brought out the first yellow flag of the season, following three practice sessions and qualifying which were pretty lacking in incidents.

A similar incident could have happened further up the grid, with Leclerc and Verstappen almost making contact, but both surviving the early skirmishes.

READ MORE: Horner and Red Bull saga has created paddock 'GOLDFISH bowl'

Verstappen dominates early exchanges

Following a great getaway off the line, Verstappen didn't look back, scampering away from the battles occurring behind him.

Mercedes' George Russell managed to past Leclerc, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton made a move on Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso.

Russell originally looked to be gaining on Verstappen once up to second, but the three-time world champion flexed his muscles in his new RB20 car, and started to pull away in the succeeding laps.

Ferrari team-mates Carlos Sainz and Leclerc ended up fighting each other, rather than their Red Bull and Mercedes rivals in the early stages of the race, and both found themselves outside of the podium positions.

READ MORE: F1 team-mate battles: Hamilton pressure is on at Mercedes as rivals clash

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 News Today: Verstappen's ulterior motive to leave Red Bull as Newey reveals blossoming relationship

• 1 hour ago

F1 boss called out after branding Lewis Hamilton clothing 'ridiculous'

• 1 hour ago

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari put on red alert as F1 title rivals plan new upgrades

• Today 08:14

F1 champion Max Verstappen to NASCAR would be a blockbuster and a win for both sports

• Yesterday 22:30

Max Verstappen is the greatest driver in F1, but McLaren still shouldn't sign him

• Yesterday 20:57

Max Verstappen Red Bull exit rumours have ulterior motive claims F1 insider

• Yesterday 17:30