How the 2023 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix unfolded

Alonso is through!

He makes the most of DRS into Turn 1 and then again into Turn 4 to complete the move.

Good stuff.

"The tyres are gone! We need to think about boxing."

Alonso is now within 0.5s of the Mercedes driver, using DRS to close up.

The Spaniard can't get close enough to make a move, though.

"Downshifts are giving me a bit of rear locking."

Alonso is now in DRS range of Russell in the battle for sixth.

"Is Lewis managing or is he slow? I feel like I've got more pace than him."

"I think I have a tear off in my left sidepod," Tsunoda reports - he's running in 14th. 

Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Stroll, Bottas, Ocon, Albon, Norris, Sargeant, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Piastri, Zhou, Gasly, de Vries and Magnussen.

A great start for both Williams drivers, with Albon up to 11th; Sargeant is 13th behind Norris at the moment.

A lock-up for Leclerc into Turn 1 but he maintains second behind Verstappen, now 3.9s off the lead.

On Lap 4, he's already 3.0s clear of Leclerc. 

The Alonso-Stroll contact at Turn 4 has been noted by the stewards.

Verstappen is already 1.7s clear of Leclerc at the front of the field.

Not a lot going on at the moment as we wait for DRS to be active.

Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Bottas, Stroll, Norris, Ocon, Albon, Sargeant, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Piastri, Zhou, Magnussen, Gasly and de Vries.

Alonso and Stroll touch into Turn 4. Both drivers seem to have got away with it though.

Verstappen leads the pack away in Bahrain.

In two minutes, the 2023 F1 season would have started officially!

Everyone on the red-marked softs except Magnussen, who is on the hards.

We're almost ready #BahrainGP#F1pic.twitter.com/6079TEwbs1

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 5, 2023

We're nearly there guys!

Our prediction: Verstappen, Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, Leclerc.

Not long to go now - just 15 minutes - until lights out.

It's now time for the Bahrain national anthem.

Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Russell, Hamilton, Stroll, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Norris, Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, Albon, Sargeant, Magnussen, Piastri, de Vries and Gasly.