Charles Leclerc wins dramatic Bahrain F1 GP as Ferrari bring home one-two

Charles Leclerc won the opening race of the new Formula One season with a dominant win at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He took a Ferrari one-two with teammate Carlos Sainz after a dramatic race where Red Bull’s challenge fell to pieces in the final laps, with reigning champion Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Pérez going out with engine problems.

It allowed Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to grab an unlikely third and fourth place for Mercedes, with Kevin Magnussen taking an impressive fifth for Haas.

Leclerc and Verstappen had grappled in a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle in the mid-part of the race, a fight which had looked to be going the distance until both the Red Bull’s went out with power unit failures. Mercedes, who had expected to be off the pace, toiled in their uncompetitive car, but did everything required to be in position to take advantage when their chance came at the very death.

In pace terms Ferrari and Red Bull were the class of the field under F1’s new regulations but where Ferrari had the perfect start, Red Bull were left pointless and facing a difficult inquiry into just what happened.

Leclerc took the flag after a consummate display marked by his calm command at the front and his staunch refusal to be cowed when Verstappen came at him. Passed twice in two laps, Leclerc fought back both times to regain the lead and then hold it for a deserved victory.

Ferrari, who effectively wrote off the 2021 season, in putting all their resources into developing this year’s car, have reaped the benefits. Their engine has made a clear step forward as amply demonstrated by the improvements in other Ferrari powered teams Haas and Alfa Romeo.

Equally their car is, on the form of this opening weekend, one of