Lap 29
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/williams.png)
Lap 28
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Lap 26
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
WATCH: Russell struggles with power unit issue – explained
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mclaren.png)
McLaren expect to challenge Russell and Leclerc
‘We’re making progress. We’ve got a race coming on with Russell and Leclerc. They’ll come into play here.
‘Everything is good on our end.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Lap 23
Ricciardo underperforms
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Ted Kravitz – issues for Mercedes
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
Lap 20
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Hopes for Russell?
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/pitstop.png)
Lap 18
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
Lap 17
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/ferrari.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Huge worries for Leclerc and Hamilton
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Lap 15
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/ferrari.png)
WATCH: Sainz blasts past ailing Leclerc
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/pitstop.png)
Lap 13
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/ferrari.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
Lap 12
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/ferrari.png)
Lap 11
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Lap 10 – some joy for Hamilton!
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/ferrari.png)
Lap 9
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mclaren.png)
Lap 7
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
Lap 6
Footballing royalty unites
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mclaren.png)
Lap 3
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/mercedes.png)
Lap 2
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/furniture/live_blog/icons/red_bull_racing.png)
And we’re off!
Formation lap underway
Any moment now…
Five minutes away!
Christian Horner cracks a smile
Opening titles set the mood
Lando Norris: This could go either way
‘We’re just in a pack which is very close. I made a mistake and paid the price. It can easily go our way or easily someone else’s way. It makes our lfie tricky but should be exciting.’
Bahrain national anthem is played
George Russell: The conditions could cause some lock-ups!
Final preparations
Reasons to be excited!
McLaren’s CEO: We can get a podium
‘I think we left a little bit of time on the table in qualifying. I don’t think a podium is out of reach.’
Nico Hulkenberg: We’re aiming for the midfield
Spain’s former king makes surprise entry
Neymar enjoys a Red Bull with drivers
Horner and Halliwell share a kiss
George Russell: ‘I’ll go for it at the first corner… that’s our only chance!’
‘I’m feeling good. It’s a nice, amazing reminder of how special this sport is. We’ve had two, three months off, you’ve got the quaifying nerves, the anxiety of what’s to come. There’s nothing else in my life that gives me those feelings and excitment ahead of a session,’ he told Sky Sports.
To get a P3 was a great result.
If there’s an opportunity on lap one, turn one, I’ll go for it. I think that’s our only chance. We’ve got to be realistic. They won almost every race last year.
Neymar is shepherded around Sakhir… and meets Yuki Tsunoda!
Geri Halliwell soaks up the conversation
Daniel Ricciardo: I’m ‘grumpy at myself’ after qualifying!
A reminder of today’s grid
Spiderman casts his web over Bahrain
Horner and Halliwell continue to mingle
Martin Brundle: Fred Vasseur might actually prefer the calm Ferrari set-up he has… without Lewis Hamilton!
‘A part of him would be happier with the calm set-up he’s got with Sainz and Leclerc,’ Brundle said.
Naomi Schiff wants Charles leclerc to take a big name joining in the right way. She said: ‘I think he [Leclerc] is going to have to see this in a positive light. Lewis comes with a huge amount of experience and has a lot to bring to the team that can help him move forward.’
Damon Hill: ‘As for Carlos going to the Mercedes, I think the idea of Toto taking a driver who’s been booted out of Ferrari unceremoniously, I don’t know if he can get his head around that.’
Brundle: ‘How about Verstappen leaves Red Bull in all the melee!’
A wide shot of the ‘school photo’
Fancy a catch-up on Horner?
Daniel Ricciardo gets locked in
Max Verstappen: The top eight or nine cars are much closer
‘Everyone is just looking forward to do the race now. We’ve done a lot of laps, preparation, long runs,’ Max Verstappen told Sky Sports.
‘It feels like the top eight or nine cars are a lot closer and that’s great to see. I do think it’s going to be quite an interesting race.
‘We have quite a few options we can do as a team [in terms of strategy] so we’ll have a look.’
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell hold hands in exclusive video
School photo time!
Sky Sports pundits give their initial thoughts on Ferrari’s chances
More snaps of Halliwell and Horner
Aadam Patel brings unique shots
Horner and Halliwell present united front
Geri Halliwell holds hands with Christian Horner in F1 paddock
David Croft sees a chance for Ferrari
An encouraging stat ahead of the race
Still deep in discussions
Future team-mates conspire
Where’s Geri?
‘The start of a gruelling first five or six races’
A day of razor-thin margins
The ULTIMATE guide to an F1 car
… And one very happy man!
One very harried man
Action pending…
Preparations in full swing
JONATHAN McEVOY: Christian Horner and the curious case of Geri’s arrival: Alleged texts. Netflix cameras everywhere. This will be the most photographed event in F1 history. And the most brazen
Lawrence Stroll strolls through the paddock
Damon Hill comments on the Christian Horner scandal
Guenther Steiner plods around the paddock
WATCH: Jonathan McEvoy brings us the latest from Bahrain
Max Verstappen: F1 texts scandal is not our business!
Nico Hulkenberg grins
Toto Wolff opens up on mental health in Mercedes
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon soak up the adulation
Good vibes in the Mercedes camp
George’s duo of doting fans arrive
Highlights of Martin Brundle’s 2023 grid walks
FIA boss: Horner controversy is DAMAGING the sport
Romain Grosjean attends race after horrific 2020 crash engulfed him in flames
CONFIRMED: Geri Halliwell will attend today’s Grand Prix
Geri Halliwell flew in to Bahrain on Thursday
Geri Halliwell WILL attend today’s race
Sergio Perez wears stony expression
EXCLUSIVE: Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner’s marriage is ‘now in question’
A tight race?
Max Verstappen DIDN’T expect his F1 pole
F1 stars return to their roots with karting
Fresh wheels
IAN HERBERT: Christian Horner couldn’t do what Geri told him to. He struts around like the cock of the walk. Now this grubby text scandal has left a stain on F1
Fernando Alonso grows a beard… and much, much more
Max Verstappen stares us down
Thumb up from George
Red Bull’s future engine supplier, Ford, remain tight-lipped
Valtteri Bottas or 80s pop star?
Nico Hulkenberg poses with fans
A frightening view!
Enough about scooters…
Lewis Hamilton experiments with a new vehicle
Duke of Richmond hopes for a princely day
Fanfare for Piastri and Tsunoda
Christian Horner dappled in sunlight
Lewis Hamilton oozes class
How would you describe F1 to a five-year-old?
Martin Brundle laments ‘very sad’ situation
Geri Halliwell’s ‘crisis talks’
Red Bull elders swoop in
No fine French vintage for Pierre
Williams principal arrives
George Russell rocks up
Christian Horner arrives
A penny for your thoughts, Lando?
A familiar face bounds in
A closer look at the Red Bull civil war
Sparks ready to fly
Is Christian Horner going to be there?
And… what about the racing?
The leaked texts that sent F1 into overdrive
What’s all this Horner stuff about?
Welcome to a season opening like no other
-
Opening titles set the mood
-
Spain’s former king makes surprise entry
-
Neymar enjoys a Red Bull with drivers
-
Horner and Halliwell share a kiss
-
Martin Brundle: Fred Vasseur might actually prefer the calm Ferrari set-up he has… without Lewis Hamilton!
-
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell hold hands in exclusive video
-
Horner and Halliwell present united front
-
Geri Halliwell holds hands with Christian Horner in F1 paddock
-
The ULTIMATE guide to an F1 car
-
Damon Hill comments on the Christian Horner scandal
-
George’s duo of doting fans arrive
-
FIA boss: Horner controversy is DAMAGING the sport
-
CONFIRMED: Geri Halliwell will attend today’s Grand Prix
-
Geri Halliwell WILL attend today’s race
-
IAN HERBERT: Christian Horner couldn’t do what Geri told him to. He struts around like the cock of the walk. Now this grubby text scandal has left a stain on F1
-
Lewis Hamilton experiments with a new vehicle
-
Lewis Hamilton oozes class
-
Martin Brundle laments ‘very sad’ situation
-
Geri Halliwell’s ‘crisis talks’
-
Christian Horner arrives
-
The leaked texts that sent F1 into overdrive
-
What’s all this Horner stuff about?
-
Welcome to a season opening like no other