Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 to open Formula 1 season in Bahrain, Verstappen retires late

After winning last year's Formula One title on the last lap of the last race, Max Verstappen's title defence began with a different sort of drama — his critics might say karma — as his Red Bull car retired just laps from the end of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ferrari clinched a 1-2 finish with Charles Leclerc winning the race, almost six seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. Lewis Hamilton, who lost the title so painfully to Verstappen in 2021, enjoyed better luck this time with an unexpected third place.

Verstappen was second behind Leclerc with a handful of laps left in the 57-lap race under floodlights. Then, after the race had restarted with a safety car, Verstappen became increasingly panicky on race radio as he struggled with steering. Moments later he was in the team garage, soon followed by his teammate Sergio Perez, as Red Bull's race dramatically collapsed.

The race finished under a yellow flag as Leclerc sent Ferrari's red garage wild with joy.

Hamilton had been lagging way behind in fifth when late drama on Lap 46 changed the whole race. Deja vu, perhaps, since late drama ended his 2021 title bid.

This time, Leclerc was leading comfortably from Verstappen when the back of Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri car caught fire as he parked it on the side of the track. It was quickly put out and the Frenchman walked away unharmed.

From the safety car restart, Leclerc got away but Verstappen started complaining.

"What is going on with the battery?" he asked.

His team told him it was fine, to which Verstappen barked back: "No, it is not."

The moment it became a 1-2 for Ferrari...<br><br>And it all slipped away for Red Bull