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Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain
Photo:
HOCH ZWEI / imago images / HochZwei
World champion
Lewis Hamilton
clinched
his first victory
at the Bahrain Grand Prix at the start of the season
.
The English Mercedes driver prevailed in Sakhir after a thrilling duel with
Max Verstappen
in the Red Bull.
It was Hamilton's 96th Grand Prix victory.
The international press writes:
GREAT BRITAIN:
»Daily Mail«:
»World champion Hamilton was harassed by Red Bull ace Max Verstappen until the very last second (...) He delivered one of the best defensive drives of his career, if not the best ever, with Verstappen hot on his heels.
Despite his tire advantage, the Red Bull man had to be content with second place. "
»The Sun«:
»The son of the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher couldn't have it easy on the rather weak Haas.
And with 16th place in Bahrain, Mick did better than his seven-time world champion father Michael in Belgium 30 years ago. "
"The Guardian":
"With his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton delivered an emphatic and wholesome reminder that if Max Verstappen wants to wrest the title from the champion, he will be fought every inch of the way."
ITALY:
“La Gazzetta dello Sport”:
“Hamilton with heart and talent.
Vettel a nightmare start.
In the duel with the young Verstappen, Hamilton draws the whole class, the heart and the talent that have brought him seven world championship titles. "
»Corriere dello Sport«
: »Breathtaking finale between the British and the Dutch, but in the end the Mercedes driver has the edge.
Lewis Hamilton takes the first win of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix. "
SPAIN:
“Marca”:
“Hamilton's polemical victory 0.7 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen took the lead with five laps to go, but the FIA ordered that he be overtaken again in a very controversial final. "
'As':
' Hamilton saves his skin.
Verstappen put the British under pressure until the very end, but he had to relinquish the lead and finished second. "
FRANCE:
»L'Équipe«
: »Of four world champions in the race, only Hamilton shone.
Alonso, Vettel and Räikkönen experienced a much more discreet Sunday (...) A weekend to forget for the French camp. "
AUSTRIA:
»Kronen Zeitung«:
»Hamilton wins a duel thriller against Verstappen.
The British Mercedes superstar kept Max Verstappen, who had started from pole position, behind him in a finish that was exciting right down to the last meters on Sunday.
The Dutchman and Red Bull had to admit defeat after a real tire game. "
SWITZERLAND:
"Blick":
"The new Formula 1 season starts with a thriller: Lewis Hamilton beats pole man Max Verstappen by less than a second."
ara / dpa