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Formula 1
Bahrain GP
F1 Bahrain GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the first pole position of the year by beating reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen in qualifying by 0.123 seconds, with Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr taking third to complete a strong Saturday for the Italian team.
With Sergio Perez qualifying in fourth place for Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton led the charge for Mercedes in fifth but was over half a second off the pace of the frontrunners, as the defending F1 world constructors’ champions continue to struggle to solve the porpoising issue.
Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and Haas returnee Kevin Magnussen also starred in qualifying, with sixth and seventh respectively, to see the two teams shake-up the midfield order.
Sebastian Vettel is out of action after testing positive for COVID-19, with Aston Martin reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified in 17th place, taking on the super-sub role which he undertook for the team on three occasions in 2020.
Daniel Ricciardo is back for McLaren after recovering from his own positive COVID-19 test which forced him to miss the Bahrain pre-season test, with the Australian set to start the race from 18th on the grid.
The 57-lap race gets underway at 3pm GMT (6pm local time).
By: Jake Boxall-Legge, Haydn Cobb, Tom Howard
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Leaderboard
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Russell, Mercedes
- Magnussen, Haas
- Bottas, Alfa Romeo
- Ocon, Alpine
- Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Alonso, Alpine
- Zhou, Alfa Romeo
- F1 Bahrain Grand Prix begins at 6pm local time (3pm GMT)
- Leclerc begins on pole from Verstappen, Sainz
- Leclerc leads Verstappen at the end of the opening lap, Hamilton and Magnussen pass Perez for P4 and P5 respectively. Perez recovers to P5 on Lap 2/57
- Ocon (Alpine) picks up a five-second penalty for causing a collision with Mick Schumacher (Haas)
- Perez recovers to P4 by passing Hamilton on lap 10/57
- After first round of pit stops, Leclerc leads Verstappen, the two tussle for the lead, swapping positions.
- Leclerc continues to lead Verstappen after second round of stops on lap 35/57
- Red Bull opt for a late three-stop strategy, Sainz, Hamilton react
- Safety Car lap 46/57 - Gasly's AlphaTauri stops, car catches fire, leader Leclerc pits
- Verstappen retires due to a mechanical issue with four laps remaining
- Perez spins out of the race from third on the penultimate lap.
- Leclerc wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Sainz claims P2 for a Ferrari 1-2. Hamilton third for Mercedes, Russell fourth.
- Points for Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso and Zhou
Checkered flag
And that's all from us today - thanks so much for joining us, and stick with us for all the round up and reaction. We'll see you next week for the Saudi Arabian GP at Jeddah.
Breaking news
Here's the report from a great start to the 2022 season: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-bahrain-gp-leclerc-leads-ferrari-1-2-red-bull-challenge-implodes/9167868/
Win #3 for Charles Leclerc - and the double dose of the Monegasque and Italian national anthems. Could you ask for a jollier duo of anthems?
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Hamilton: "Firstly, a big congratulations to Ferrari, happy to see them doing well again! I think it was such a difficult race, we struggled throughout practice, but we did the best we could."
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Sainz: "First of all, congrats to Charles and congrats to Ferrari - Ferrari is back! For me, it's been a tricky weekend, I'm not going to lie. I've got some homework to do over the next few days, but we'll come back stronger."
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Leclerc: "Again, I keep repeating myself but the past two years have been incredibly difficult for the team. It was a huge opportunity for the team - we couldn't hope for better."
That's a very happy Ferrari team - great to see after a sparse couple of years for the team. Meanwhile, big inquest to go on in the newly-formed Red Bull Powertrains division, as three RBPT-powered cars end the day early.
Ferrari hasn't won since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix - that was a 1-2 then, too. Big return for the Scuderia - a statement of intent.
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Bottas takes sixth in his first Alfa Romeo race, ahead of Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso, and rookie Zhou takes home 10th on his debut.
Lewis Hamilton bags third ahead of George Russell, as Kevin Magnussen bags some sweet points for Haas in fifth!
Checkered flag
But after all of that, it's victory for Charles Leclerc - and Carlos Sainz Jr completes the Ferrari 1-2!
Mechanical problem
Hamilton bangs on the DRS, right on Perez's tail - and Perez spins at Turn 1! His rear just locked - and that's it! Both Red Bulls done - and Hamilton up to third!
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"I'm losing power!" says Perez - he's struggling too! Huge powertrain problems - he's being gee'd up by engineer Hugh Bird to get the car to the finish.
Verstappen's retirement has, obviously, promoted everyone behind up a spot, so it means Alonso is into the final points place.
Hamilton's gunning for a podium here now, as he's all over Perez's tail. Russell's staying close too.
Mechanical problem
"We can see the issue Max, it's not battery related - there's not a lot we can do." He's pitting - day done for Verstappen!
Sainz grabs DRS second time around, however, and stays close on the infield section. Verstappen is effing and blinding over his battery, as Sainz dives past Verstappen at Turn 11 - it's Ferrari 1 and 2!
Zhou tucked up the inside of Schumacher at Turn 10 and with a better exit powered ahead into Turn 11 to take 12th place. Schumacher won't lose any further places because nobody is behind him as they were all the lapped cars.
Sainz has dropped out of DRS range of Verstappen as it's once again activated following the restart. Leclerc's lead, however, is continuing to grow once more at 2.9s at the start of lap 54. Four to go.
F1 debutant Zhou also sniffed an overtake on Schumacher but the German defends at Turn 1 to keep position. But not for long as Zhou fights back and takes 12th.
Leclerc's after an early break and with Sainz keeping Verstappen, he's building it.
Alonso also overtakes Schumacher, getting by at Turn 11, to take 11th place.
Tsunoda the only key mover at the restart, getting up to 10th ahead of Schumacher at Turn 4.
Leclerc gets us underway, as Sainz tees up a move on Verstappen! Verstappen holds second, but Sainz is on him like a rash!
Green flag
Here we go, restart ahoy!
All drivers are on softs for this restart. Seven-lap sprint to the finish. Here we go!
Breaking news
The safety car will come in at the end of lap 50. Verstappen's going to have to do this without the benefit of consistent power steering - although the situation is apparently "stable".
Abu Dhabi GP flashback intensifies.
"Lapped cars may now overtake". That's ALL lapped cars, not just any.
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"It's more and more difficult to steer with speed," Verstappen reports over the radio.