The Sakhir Gran Prix, the second F1 race this season at Bahrain, was a series of firsts and a succession of mistakes. 

Sakhir was first Gran Prix in his F1 career that seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton did not participate.  The Mercedes driver had been in self-isolation since testing positive after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain 2.  George Russell drove for Hamilton. 

Hamilton’s absence opened the door to habitual runners-up Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull to claim the podium’s middle tier. 

Bottas poor race-start and an inability to get around teammate Russell was his ruin.  Bottas “did not shine” said Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff.  Bottas narrowly took the pole position from Russell, but was beat off the line by Russell and was unable to recapture the lead. 

Verstappen was force from the race at Turn 4 of the opening lap. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc aggressive pursuit of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez caused the Ferrari driver to lockup and skid into Perez, spinning Perez around and forcing Verstappen into the wall.  This the second time this season that Verstappen had retired on the first lap.

Verstappen’s early departure and Bottas’ inability to pass created a momentous opportunity for Russell.  Russell built an almost five second lead over the second place Bottas until a mistake occurred during a pit stop under Safety Car conditions.  The pit crew place the tires intended for Bottas’ car on to Russell’s.  

Russell re-pitted the next lap to replace tires and was pursuing leader Sergio Perez when a puncture forced the Mercedes driver to pit for the third time.  Russell finished P9 and Bottas P8. 

This was the worse Mercedes performance since the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix. Team principal Toto Wolff accepted full blame on behalf of Mercedes, calling it a "colossal f*** up". 

Perez was the beneficiary of the Mercedes problems.  It was his first victory in 192 starts, the longest wait in F1 history.  "I'm speechless," Perez said after the race. "I hope I'm not dreaming, because I've dreamt for so many years of being in this moment, 10 years it took me - incredible.

The victory was remarkable because Perez was knocked backwards by Charles Leclerc in the same incident that force Max Verstappen from the race.  Perez dropped to last position after contact with Leclerc. 

"I don't know what to say,” said Perez.  “After the first lap, the race was again gone, same as last weekend. But it was about not giving up, recovering, going through it, just making the best we possibly could. 

Renault’s Esteban Ocon finished second, 10.518 seconds behind Perez.  Ocon admitted to crying after securing his first podium and best finish in F1.

Racing Point teammate Lance Stroll crossed the finish line 11.869 seconds behind to claim the third podium position.  This was Stroll’s third, third-place finish.