Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc celebrates on the rostrum successful the Bahrain Components One Grand Prix on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit within the metropolis of Sakhir on March 20, 2022. (Picture by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari gained a dramatic Components One season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday after reigning champion Max Verstappen limped out with {an electrical} concern two laps earlier than the tip.
Carlos Sainz made it a Ferrari one-two whereas Sergio Perez accomplished a disastrous day for Verstappen’s Pink Bull by spinning out of the race on the final lap with a mechanical drawback, handing third place to Lewis Hamilton.
The second it grew to become a 1-2 for Ferrari…
And all of it slipped away for Pink Bull 💔#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/OmAj2c83Vu
— Components 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
George Russell, in his first race since becoming a member of Hamilton at Mercedes to switch Valtteri Bottas, took fourth place to offer Mercedes a rating of 27 factors that they may not have dreamed of in the midst of the race.
For Leclerc, who saved his cool when he and Verstappen exchanged the lead 5 occasions in two laps in a livid begin to the race, the victory was pure delight.
“That’s precisely how we should always begin the season. One-two child, one-two. Mamma mia,” the person from Monaco mentioned on the staff radio.
As soon as the race trophy was in his arms, Leclerc mentioned: “I’m so pleased. We knew this was an enormous alternative for the staff and the fellows have accomplished an unbelievable job constructing into wonderful automotive.
“A one-two as we speak with Carlos – we couldn’t hope for higher. It’s unbelievable to be again on the prime.”
There was additionally a exceptional final result for Haas, the staff which didn’t rating a single level final season and was pressured to switch Russian driver Nikita Mazepin — and his tycoon father’s sponsorship of the staff — because of the invasion of Ukraine.
The driving force who changed him, Kevin Magnussen, completed fifth within the Dane’s first race since 2020 to gather 10 factors.
Zhou Guanyu made historical past as he scored China’s first level in Components One after steering his Alfa Romeo to tenth.
In a double celebration for Asia, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda took eighth spot and 4 factors for AlphaTauri.
– Pink Bull’s zero returns –
Leclerc’s begin from pole place was instantly challenged by Verstappen underneath the lights within the Gulf however he fought again to regain the lead.
By lap 37 of 57, Verstappen was arguing along with his personal staff over their directions from the pit lane and Leclerc had prolonged his result in 2.3 seconds and held onto it for a deserved victory.
The race was disrupted when the protection automotive got here out on the 51st lap after Pierre Gasly needed to leap out of his AlphaTauri earlier than it burst into flames.
When racing resumed, Sainz attacked Verstappen for second place however the Dutchman’s race led to bitter disappointment as he appeared to lose all energy on the fifty fifth lap and needed to limp into the pits with no level.
“It was very exhausting on the market, quite a lot of completely different points we needed to cope with and that is after all what you don’t what to have on the primary race weekend,” mentioned Verstappen.
“It was not nice as we speak, we didn’t present what we may do for no matter purpose however there’s potential. We’ve already misplaced quite a lot of factors on this weekend, that’s actually not good.”
Whereas Christian Horner and his Pink Bull staff have been digesting the champion’s failure to complete, Perez instantly spun and got here to a halt, apparently resulting from engine failure.
“It seems like an identical concern on each automobiles. We don’t know precisely what it’s but… however we’ve bought to get into it and perceive precisely what brought about it,” Pink Bull staff principal Christian Horner informed Sky Sports activities.
“It was a brutal end to that race for us. What appeared like an honest haul of factors for us evaporated within the final couple of laps there.”
Pink Bull’s late misfortune allowed seven-time champion Hamilton to assist himself to 3rd place.
“A giant, massive congratulations to Ferrari, it’s so good to see them doing nicely once more,” mentioned Hamilton.
“It was such a troublesome race – we’ve struggled all through apply and this was the very best consequence we may hope for. We’re grateful for these factors.”
There may be little relaxation for the drivers as they transfer on to Saudi Arabia for subsequent weekend’s race.
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