F1 | Hamilton opens the season with a success: "Tough race, I love the challenge with Verstappen"

The season opened in the name of Lewis Hamilton. In fact, the Englishman took victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first round of the 2021 World Championship, getting the better of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. The seven-time world champion thus found success in the inaugural race of the championship after six years: the last one in fact dates back to the 2015 Australian GP.

On Hamilton's part, a thought was not missing for the fans who were present in the stands at Sakhir, starting to give those very first signs of a return to normality.

"It was nice to see people again. Everyone keeps their distance and stay safe. I am very proud of what Formula One has managed to do to be able to start with a normal calendar this year”, declared Hamilton hotly.

The Englishman then, moving on to track issues, focused on the duel with Verstappen: “From the start we knew it would be a difficult race, Max has been fantastic all weekend so we had to do something very special today. We suffered in the last stint and tried to find the right balance, between not pushing too much and the right balance and keeping the tires until the end. In the end we fought Max and I just managed to keep up with him. It was one of the toughest races in a long time. Thanks to all the boys and girls in the factory and those who are here. They keep pushing and never give up, even when we think we're behind. It looks fantastic this year, it's only one race but it's already been so exciting".

Verstappen and Red Bull have launched the challenge, Hamilton is ready to face it: “We'll have to do a little more to be able to keep up with them. I love this challenge, I love my job and that's fine".