Bahrain GP – Formula 1: Ferrari dominates in Bahrain – The Formula 1 Season opener saw Charles Leclerc win the Bahrain Grand Prix. It was a 1-2 finish for Ferrari as Carlos Sainz finished P2 and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton P3. It was a disappointing start for Red Bull as Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez didn’t finish the race. Follow Formula 1 Bahrain GP Live Updates & Bahrain GRAND PRIX LIVE with InsideSport.IN.
Bahrain GP Highlights: Charles Leclerc wins as Ferrari dominate in Bahrain GP, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in the desert, Hamilton takes dramatic 3rd – Watch Highlights
Ferrari had a perfect start to their 2022 season as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured the top two podium spots, while Lewis Hamilton scramble to P3 as both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez did not finish in the season opener in Bahrain.
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.
A few minutes later both Red Bulls were out of the race and George Russell’s Mercedes moved up into fourth to give Mercedes an unexpected bonus. In a 57-lap race, Verstappen retired on Lap 54 and Perez on 56. A thrilling race to start the season and one laced with a large dollop of irony. Perez’s retirement reaped rewards for Mercedes, as seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton took an unexpected third place.
It was Ferrari’s first win and it’s first 1-2 since former driver Sebastian Vettel won the Singapore GP ahead of Leclerc in 2019, and Leclerc’s first since winning the Italian GP in Monza two weeks earlier.
After the last two years we’ve had, you have no idea how much joy it brings to type these words!! 😁😁😁#HaasF1 #BahrainGP https://t.co/XwZsN82MoB
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 20, 2022
A tough result to take. We need to do a full investigation, but it looks like both Bulls suffered from a suspected fuel pump issue.#BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/TJiixJJbsO
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 20, 2022
Who else could it be?! @Charles_Leclerc is your #F1DriverOfTheDay 🙌 #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kDzUZO55HM
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
CHARLES LECLERC WINSSSSSSS! 🏁
It’s his and Ferrari’s first victory since 2019, and Carlos Sainz makes it a brilliant 1-2!#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5bHPpxaJwm
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
🏁 END OF RACE 🏁
TOP 10
Leclerc
Sainz
Hamilton
Russell
Magnussen
Bottas
Ocon
Tsunoda
Alonso
Zhou#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/119F7HBSbQ— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
Career win #3 for Charles Leclerc 👏#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/no47rHfAuU
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
What an incredible start to the season that was! 😱#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5psskLx9cY
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
What a way to start the season! 🎆#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/U6QazLdCjn
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Toto Wolff says, “I think we are punching above our weight class, with the Red Bulls DNF-ing, third and fourth is a great result. On the soft tyre before that degrades, we are almost there, not with Leclerc but with the others. We tried to do something different with the hard tyre but it was a second slower – lesson learned.”
LEWIS: “A big, big congratulations to Ferrari. It was such a difficult race for us. This was really the best result we could have got” #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/iasDkfCIQY
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Lewis Hamilton says, “A big big congratulations to Ferrari, so good to see them doing well again. Such a difficult race, we’ve struggled throughout practice and this was the best result we could. We’re grateful for these points, the guys are working really hard back at the factory, there’s a long way to go.”
CARLOS: “Ferrari is back, the hard work has paid off. Congratulations to Charles, and I managed to bring the 1-2 back for the team”#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/afXZKUSrY6
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Carlos Sainz says, “Ferrari’s back, and is properly back. The hard work is paying off and we are there. I didn’t have the pace today but I managed to hang in there and bring back the one – two for the team.”
CHARLES: “I’m so happy. We could not have hoped for better. The past two years have not been easy. It’s great to be back on top”#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ck5cnbynFA
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Charles Leclerc says, “So happy. We knew this was a big opportunity for the team and the guys have done an incredible job building into amazing car. One, two today with Carlos, we couldn’t hope for better. It’s incredible to be back at the top.”
- Charles Leclerc on team radio, “Let’s go, letttttt’s goooooo. That’s exactly how we should start the season. One, two baby. Whoo! Mama mia.”
- Charles Leclerc wins the Bahrain Grand Prix with a 1-2 finish for Ferrari. Carlos Sainz is second.
- Sergio Perez has a lock-up and lost his position.
- Max Verstappen is now out of the race.
- Carlos Sainz overtakes Verstappen and goes P2.
LAP 52/57
Daylight between Leclerc and Verstappen at the front!
TOP 10
LEC
VER
SAI
PER
HAM
RUS
MAG
BOT
OCO
TSU#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Z7oJx6VZNQ— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Just five laps to go.
- Charles Leclerc is extending the gap between him and second-placed Verstappen. The gap is now more than 2 seconds.
- The safety car period has ended and Charles Leclerc is still leading the race. Verstappen in P2 and Sainz in P3.
- The safety car period is nearing the end.
- Haas’ both cars are in the top 10. Great start for the American team.
- We still have the safety car period.
- Red Bull pit wall to Max Verstappen on radio, “Max, steering update, we are staying out, we don’t believe it is a reliability concern.”
LAP 46/57
Gasly’s race ends – flames coming out of the rear, expertly dealt with by a race marshal
⚠️ SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED ⚠️#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/uHHArGF5Ht
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Yellow flag as Pierre Gasly’s car is on fire. Stewards have joined him on the track with the extinguishers.
- Lewis Hamilton pits and lost his P4 position. He is now P6.
- Lewis Hamilton jumps to P4.
- Max Verstappen again comes in the pit lane. Things not looking good for Red Bull.
- Ferrari’s race pace is looking strong as both drivers are in the top three.
- Charles Leclerc remains in the lead, with a four-second gap to Max Verstappen in P2.
Mattia 📻 “Bravi, bravi, bravi.”
Two very good pit stops for the guys changing for medium tyres.
They’re back into initial positions!#BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/h9NWenHTyW
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 20, 2022
- Yuki Tsunoda overtakes Alonso and is now P10.
- Alpine is having a good start to the season as Alonso is P10 and Ocon P9.
- The pit stops this season are taking really long time.
- Ferrari is leading the way as Charles Leclerc has taken P1 and Verstappen is behind him in P2.
- Carlos Sainz is now leading the race with Sergio Perez in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3. Ferrari are looking really strong today.
- Max Verstappen pits again. 25 seconds for a pit stop might not be good for him and Red Bull. Will this change everything for Max. We have to see.
- Lewis Hamilton again makes a pit stop and changes his tyres. He is now P8.
- Max Verstappen on team radio, “The tyres are dead again.”
- Fernando Alonso overtakes Alex Albon and is now P14.
- The fight between Bottas and Tsunoda is really picking up. Bottas is literally giving his everything but Yuki is staying calm and maintains his position.
- Valtteri Bottas (P12) is held by Yuki Tsunoda who is currently P11.
- Haas’ Kevin Magnussen is seventh and looking strong. He might be the first driver for Haas in two years who might score a point today.
That fight up front! 🍿👀 Can’t wait to join the party.
We just need to keep putting in the work. 💪
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 20, 2022
Max 🆚 LEC is always box office 🍿
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 20, 2022
LAP 17/57
Verstappen ⚔️ Leclerc
Verstappen gets ahead but Leclerc responds and retakes the lead moments later! #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/S9gFIvEU30
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Max Verstappen is eyeing first blood as he has set his eyes on Ferrari’s Leclerc.
- Verstappen overtook Leclerc at Turn 1 but his car locks up and Leclerc still leads.
- Max and Leclerc are really pushing each other on every lap. It will be interesting to see how much they can push each other and the tyres.
- Sergio Perez takes the extra point for the fastest lap.
- Max again overtook Leclerc but Leclerc retakes him and still leads. What a race we are witnessing.
- Max on fresher tyres has set the lap record for the race. This might earn him an extra point.
- Max Verstappen overtakes Leclerc and leads but Leclerc retakes the lead.
- George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are the two drivers who are running the hard tyres.
- Max Verstappen is really pushing his car to the limit while chasing the leader Charles Leclerc.
- Slowly drivers are coming into the pit lane to change their tyres. Have every team gone wrong with the tyre selection?
- Hamilton on team radio, “That was a really early stop.”
LAP 10/57
Perez has got past Hamilton and back to where he started the race – P4
TOP 10
LEC
VER
SAI
PER
HAM
RUS
MAG
GAS
OCO
ALO#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hjnpduq7Xb— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- Valtteri Bottas is P10 and fighting for his position against his former teammate Hamilton.
- Guanyu Zhou overtakes Hamilton as he makes his way out of the pit lane.
- Lewis Hamilton pits and changes his tyres. He is currently running the hard tyres.
- Ferrari and Red Bull are really looking strong as Mercedes is reeling in fifth and sixth position.
- Sergio Perez is now P4 and Hamilton is P5.
- McLaren are really struggling as Lando Norris is P18 and Daniel Ricciardo is reeling back in P20.
- Esteban Ocon is getting a five-second penalty.
- After 6 laps, It’s Charles Leclerc who is leading the race. Max Verstappen is behind him in P2 and Sainz in P3.
- TURN 6 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS (31) Esteban Ocon and (47) Mick Schumacher NOTED – CAUSING A COLLISION
- Haas’ Keving Magnussen has climbed two places and is now in P5. Sergio Perez has dropped two positions and is now P6.
- Charles Leclerc is leading with Max Verstappen in second. Carlos Sainz is third and Hamilton is just behind him in P4.
⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
LIGHTS OUT!!!The 2022 season is GO, GO, GO! #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/3hRUqF4qOw
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- The first race is on. It’s lights out.
We’re all set 🤩
A new era of #F1 racing is about to begin! #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/gkbgesOJ9o
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
Formation lap is GO! 👉#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/IPQmFjHoz6
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
- The formation lap gets underway.
Toto Wolff says, “We believe the car has potential, but the regulations are so different, we are learning step by step. Today is just another test for us. We’ve had long runs, some were good, some were bad. We are not where we want to be, we are not fighting for victories.”
George Russell says, “We’ve got a bit of ground to make up for sure, yesterday didn’t work out but ultimately we are a step behind Ferrari and Red Bull. Morale is good. It would be worse if we were this pace and didn’t know what the issue was. Damage limitation.”
Everyone wants a shot of our pole sitter! 📸#BahrainGP @Charles_Leclerc pic.twitter.com/d76Tj4v2N8
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
✨ R A C E D A Y ✨
It all comes down to this. A battle under the floodlights of the @BAH_Int_Circuit. Are you ready?#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/nrHVnfeTKK
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 20, 2022
📸 The class of ’22 #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/AvXUeTcCnA
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
Grid loading ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬜️#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eDU8DmpspJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
The gang are back together 😃#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/P5kHVdoSyd
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2022
Covers off. 👏 We’ve got racing to do today. 👊 pic.twitter.com/No5fWAomAL
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 20, 2022
Eyes on the data. 📊 Let’s get ready to race, team.#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 pic.twitter.com/e7wC3qd3yl
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 20, 2022
Lando Norris says, “I’m excited and we have nothing to lose. It’s going to be tough and we are not where we thought we will be. It’s going to be a struggle and we will look to score points. We need to overtake cars as it’s going to be a long race. Our knowledge on the tyres is less as compared to others.
Charles Leclerc says, “It feels nice to be on the pole position. We need to capitalize on this and finish the job today. Max and his race pace both look strong. We need to have a good start and be at the front after the first lap. From their onwards, we have to trust ourselves and keep that position.”
Carlos Sainz says, “The position is better and there’s more to come. The whole weekend for me was a struggle and I managed to find some extra pace. I’ll try to convert this extra pace into a race pace. I’m comfortable with the new car and we are in a good spot.”
Max Verstappen says, “We have to score points. We have a competitive car and will look to score points. Let’s see how the race goes as it’s a long race and a difficult one. It’s difficult for the tyres so hopefully, we will be good on them. It’s going to be very close with the Ferrari and we will play the long game. Last year also the race was decided in the last few laps so it’s going to be the same this time around. We will stay focused and try to attack.”
Can Lewis Hamilton spoil the party? The new era of Formula 1 sees Scuderia Ferrari, the team to beat. Charles Leclerc achieved the 10th pole of his career as the Scarlet reds sped under the starry nights in Bahrain. Defending World Champion Max Verstappen failed to take the top spot as he finished the second missing pole by 0.123s seconds. Carlos Sainz who was faster than Leclerc in Q2 took the third spot. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth while teammate George Russell could only manage ninth place. Follow Bahrain Grand Prix and Formula 1 Updates on InsideSport.IN
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Charles Leclerc said, “It feels good! We were quite hopeful that this would be an opportunity to be back in the front. We’re starting from pole, so I’m very happy!”
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Q3 Standings:-
Just 0.129s between our top three in qualifying 🤯#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/zhyI9sqbgW
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, 2022
Mercedes were the first team out on track as they finished their first stint on old soft compound tyres, but failed to get the pace. It was Ferrari who stole the show as Charles Leclerc pulled off a stellar stint to occupy the top spot. Max Verstappen was the last driver to cross the line who sandwiched himself in between the two Ferrari’s to take the second spot.
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez took the fourth spot which was followed by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes who still struggled with his car. The biggest surprise of the qualifying was Valtteri Bottas who managed to take the sixth spot in his Alpha Romeo. Alpine’s ‘El Plan’ man Fernando Alonso pulled off a stunner as he took the eighth spot.
“I think we have a good car and a good race car. It was a good start to the new era. It was a really close battle with Carlos and Charles,” added Max Verstappen. Carlos Sainz said, “I’ve been more than half a second behind all weekend, so to be even fighting for pole position today was good news for me.”
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Mercedes’s new recruit George Russell failed to have a good stint in Q3 as he managed the 9th spot while Alpha Tauri‘s Pierre Gasly continued his good form as he took the 10th spot. Kevin Magnussen of Haas who took the 7th spot had some issues with his car and stopped his car right after turn 1 in Q3, thereby failing to get a chance to improve on his timings.
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Q2 Standings:-
The only rookie driver this season, Zhou Guanyu managed to enter Q2 but failed to increase his pace as he finished 15th. Alex Albon in his return to F1 after a while out-qualified his Williams teammate by was only the 14th fastest. McLaren had real troubles on Saturday in finding their pace as Lando Norris failed to make it to Q3 and was 13th fastest. It had been relatively a good session for Haas who was good in Q1.
Mick Schumacher finished 12th and was over a second slower than Q2 leader Max Verstappen. It was trouble for Alpine was Esteban Ocon failed to make it to the final round, but Fernando Alonso easily managed to get into Q3.
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Q1 Standings:-
Qualifying 1 was one of the most strange qualifying sessions in quite some time with a variety of teams achieving the top 10 positions. The most disappointing was however McLaren as they lost Daniel Ricciardo in the 18th spot. Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg finished 16th and 17th respectively. Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and Nicholas Latifi too was eliminated in Q1 after being the 19th and 20th fastest.
Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain GP as Ferrari dominate, Max Verstappen and Red Bull bottle in desert – Watch Highlights
Follow Formula 1 Bahrain GP Live Updates & Bahrain GRAND PRIX LIVE with InsideSport.IN.
Editors pick
