HINCH’S HEROES: Who starred under the lights at the 2023 season opener in Bahrain?

In motorsport, there are some performances that are undeniably, self-evidently brilliant. But sometimes, impressive drives can fly under the radar, overshadowed by more headline-grabbing performances up front. In a new-for-2023 column, former IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe will turn his expert eye on the great performances you may have missed across the course of a race weekend. First up: the Bahrain Grand Prix...

After much anticipation, the 2023 F1 season kicked off this past weekend in Sakhir. One week on from the sole pre-season test at the same venue, there were few surprises in the overall pecking order, although the genuine pace of Aston Martin did have people talking. And there were several drivers who delivered in big ways on Sunday night.

Let's pick out my Hinch's Heroes from the Bahrain Grand Prix...