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29 March 2024

Alonso leads Ferrari 1-2 in Bahrain GP

Ferrari Formula One drivers Felipe Massa (L) of Brazil, Fernando Alonso of Spain and McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attend a news conference after the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at Sakhir circuit in Manama. (REUTERS)

Published
By AFP

Two-times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso dedicated his debut triumph with Ferrari yesterday to the Italian nation, the team's workforce and president Luca di Montezemolo.

After leading Brazilian Felipe Massa home in an emphatic one-two for Ferrari that wiped away memories of their desultory opening spell in 2009, Alonso said it was a very "special day for me".

The 28-year-old former Renault star said: "For anyone to come to Ferrari, a team with so much history, it is a special thing to win and to be first and second is fantastic for everyone in the team.

"They gave me this fantastic car and that is why I dedicate this result to all the people in Italy, the guys here and to the President Montezemolo."

Alonso's delight was shared by Massa, who bounced back in triumphant style in his first race since suffering serious head and eye injuries after a horror accident in Hungary last August.

"For me to be back here, it is just fantastic and I thank God for this," said Massa.

In a keenly-anticipated race featuring four champions, three new teams, five rookie drivers and new rules that banned mid-race refuelling, the Ferrari duo outshone returning 41-year-old 'red baron' Michael Schumacher who was left among the chasing pack and finished sixth.

It was his first Formula One race after three years in retirement, having won a record seven drivers world titles, and he was beaten by his Mercedes team-mate and fellow-German Nico Rosberg, who came home fifth.

"That was as good as it could have been for me," said Schumacher afterwards.

Briton Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, was third for McLaren, but his new team-mate, defending champion and compatriot Jenson Button battled to take seventh.

"I have to congratulate first the two Ferrari guys for such a great job," he said.

"And I thought I had quite a good race! Actually, it is better than I think we expected – a strong result for me and the team and I am quite happy."

Alonso, who won the title twice with his former team Renault, delivered the 22nd win of his career – and his third in Bahrain – with a brilliantly-judged performance by preserving both his tyres and his engine on a sizzling hot day at the Sakhir circuit.

Driving with meticulous care, Alonso took full advantage of bad luck that hit German Sebastian Vettel when his Red Bull car suffered an exhaust failure and lost power dramatically after leading for the first 34 laps of the 49-laps contest.

"It is a real pity, but what can you do? We were fast and had the race under control until then."

Vettel, starting from his sixth pole, had led easily, but fell away and finished fourth.

His Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber came home eighth ahead of Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi for Force India.

 

RESULTS

1. Fernando Alonso Spain Ferrari 1 hr 39 mins 20.396 secs

2. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari +00:16.099 secs

3. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren 00:23.182

4. Sebastian Vettel Germany RedBull - Renault 00:38.799

5. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes 00:40.213

6. Michael Schumacher Germany Mercedes 00:44.163

7. Jenson Button Britain McLaren 00:45.280

8. Mark Webber Australia RedBull - Renault 00:46.360

9. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Force India – Mercedes 00:53.008

10. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Williams - Cosworth 01:02.489

11. Robert Kubica Poland Renault 01:09.093

12. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India - Mercedes 01:22.958

13. Jaime Alguersuari Spain Toro Rosso - Ferrari 01:32.656

14. Nico Huelkenberg Germany Williams – Cosworth 1 lap

15. Heikki Kovalainen Finland Lotus – Cosworth 2 laps

16. Jarno Trulli Italy Lotus – Cosworth 3 laps

17. Sebastien Buemi Switzerland Toro Rosso – Ferrari 3 laps

Fastest lap : Fernando Alonso (1:58.287) Lap 44