F1
Ferrari won its first F-1 race since 2019 and finished 1-2. (Photo: Pirelli F1 Media)
Formula 1

Leclerc Scores Ferrari’s First Win Since 2019

March 20, 2022

SAKHIR, Bahrain — Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won Formula 1’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from the pole. 

Leclerc led every lap of the race on his way to delivering Ferrari’s first F-1 win since 2019 at Singapore and his third career victory.

It’s Ferrari’s first time to lead every lap of a race since 2018.

“Yes, yes, so happy,” said Leclerc. “Again, I keep repeating myself, but the last two years have been incredibly difficult for the team, and we knew this was going to be a big opportunity for the team and the guys have done such an incredible job building this amazing car.”

Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after he took advantage of late-race problems for both Red Bull entries.

Defending champion Max Verstappen pulled off the track with three laps to go with a power unit problem.

Then on the last lap, Sergio Perez spun in the first turn from an apparent engine problem.

The top five was completed by George Russell and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. It was Magnussen’s first race since re-joining the team last week. He was tabbed by Haas after it fired Russian driver Nikita Mazepin in fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The craziness just continues,” Magnussen said. “We had a really good race and the car was good all the way through. We had a little more degradation than we would’ve hoped for on the first set of tires, but I also got passed a few people that were faster than me on the first lap and I didn’t really know whether to keep them behind or let them go. I also locked up a little bit so maybe it wasn’t perfect, but even though we pitted earlier we then extended the second stint on the same tire to get back on plan. Then there was a safety car that put everyone on the same tire and then it was just a sprint race to the end, so it was just intense. Obviously, a bit of luck there with the two Red Bull’s but we’ll take that.”