HIGHLIGHTS: Relive the action from the Bahrain Grand Prix as Verstappen takes first victory of 2024

Max Verstappen has begun his title defence in style by taking victory in the 2024 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, while plenty of drama unfolded behind.

The reigning world champion made a strong start from pole, having held off a potential challenge from Charles Leclerc into Turn 1 before going on to stretch out an early lead.

READ MORE: Verstappen storms to victory in action-packed season-opening Bahrain GP

From there Verstappen had a mostly untroubled evening en route to P1, while team mate Sergio Perez made it a Red Bull one-two result and Carlos Sainz clinched the final podium position, putting in a solid drive to kick off his last season with Ferrari.

Leclerc – who had struggled with front brake locking issues earlier in the Grand Prix – pulled off an overtake on George Russell in the latter stages to take fourth, putting the Mercedes man in fifth. Lando Norris claimed P6, with Lewis Hamilton in P7 and Oscar Piastri in P8.

The Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10, with Stroll bouncing back from a first-lap tangle with Nico Hulkenberg in what proved to be a race featuring plenty of overtakes.

Click on the video player above to watch the highlights from the curtain-raising Bahrain Grand Prix.