Bahrain

Pourchaire opened 2023 with a commanding ART pole at Sakhir, edging teammate Martins. The reversed grid handed Sprint pole to Boschung, and the Campos veteran controlled it superbly, winning untroubled by around ten seconds ahead of Hauger, in on debut with MP, and Martins, who carved from eighth to the podium on his F2 debut. There were no safety cars; Verschoor's late mechanical issue was the only real drama, while grid penalties hit Leclerc and Hadjar for late mechanics on the grid. The Feature was a Pourchaire masterclass from pole. A first-lap clash through the early corners eliminated Martins, Vesti and Stanek, bringing out the safety car. Pourchaire pitted early to softs after a Turn 10 lock-up, and the undercut held off Boschung, who took second after his own later stop for hards. Behind them Maloney produced the drive of the day, charging from 18th and snatching the final podium spot from Maini with a DRS pass near the end. Hauger's engine let go around mid-distance. Pourchaire and Boschung left Bahrain as early championship pace-setters.