'Mamma Mia!' Ferrari properly back at the top of Formula One

Ferrari ended a 45-race winless streak on Sunday to start Formula One's new era with a flourish and a one-two finish in Bahrain that sent the sport's oldest and most glamorous team back to the top.

Charles Leclerc's pole to flag victory, with fastest lap, was a first for the Maranello team since Singapore 2019 when four times world champion Sebastian Vettel led Leclerc in a one-two.

"Mamma Mia!" exclaimed the Monaco driver after crossing the line to trigger wild celebrations and the sound of the Italian anthem.

While Leclerc became the first from the Mediterranean principality to lead the championship, Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz made sure the team secured maximum points from the evening.

Career win #3 for Charles Leclerc ??#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/no47rHfAuU

"Ferrari is back and it's properly back, with a 1-2 and where the team should have been the last two years," said Sainz, who passed world champion Max Verstappen's stricken Red Bull before it retired.

"The hard work is paying off and we are there."

Ferrari has not won a title since 2008 and slumped to a 40-year low of sixth overall in 2020 before moving back up to third last season.

"A big, big congratulation to Ferrari," said Mercedes' seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who joined the pair on the podium.

"So happy to see them doing well again. They are such an historic, epic team. It's great to see Carlos and Charles up there as well."

????Ferrari is back! Congrats everyone! This 1-2 is the perfect reward for the endless job done to recover and we share our joy with every Tifosi. I didn’t feel at home in the car this weekend, but we go again next week. Congrats to Charles. Forza Ferrari!??https://t.co/5iKVrp224X pic.twitter.com/hmI0a5z2ir

A delighted Leclerc,