Verstappen after win: F1 grid is more competitive

BAHRAIN — Max Verstappen might be one of the few people who still thinks Formula One’s 2024 season will be closer than the dominant campaign he orchestrated last time round.

Verstappen, victor at a record 19 of the sport’s 22 races last year, won this season’s opener at a canter ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

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Third-placed Carlos Sainz was 25 seconds back in the closest non-Red Bull car. The comfortable nature of his victory seemed to confirm fears that Verstappen can coast to a fourth straight championship.

Mercedes driver George Russell stopped short of his prediction of 12 months ago that Red Bull could win every race but said the best Verstappen’s rivals can hope for is the odd win here or there this year.

Verstappen, however, is not so sure.

“I think that, in general, other teams are closer,” Verstappen said on Saturday evening after the race.

“I just think that today, everything just worked really, really well, and I don’t expect that to happen every single grand prix in the near future. So still, we take it, we look back at it, of course, we analyze it, and we’ll try to improve further.

“I don’t know how they approach their long runs, you know, with fuel loads and whatever. But from our side, it was definitely not expected to be half a second ahead. But yeah, it was probably a bit better than I thought today.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose job still remains the subject of intense scrutiny after a controversial few weeks related to a misconduct investigation, said he expects the field to close up as the season develops.

“I’m sorry that it wasn’t a more entertaining race for you today, but that is the result of the team doing its job, and producing an incredible car,” Horner said.

“Now we have a sample of one race. I have the feeling the field is going to concertina this year.

“I don’t think you can take anything for granted out of this one race on a specific surface, specific conditions. And I have a feeling that this season will be a lot more challenging on-track than last season. But it’s the best possible start, and our minds are already thinking about five days’ time in Jeddah.”

F1’s season continues with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on Feb. 9.