March 21, (THEWILL) – In a dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari one-two finish, with defending champion Max Verstappen retiring three laps from the finish.
The Red Bull driver had an incident during a late safety car stoppage. He complained about a steering issue that Red Bull could not identify, but when the race resumed, the disgruntled Dutchman shouted over the radio saying “there’s a problem with the battery!”
Verstappen eventually retired, while teammate Sergio Perez spun on the final lap, allowing Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to finish on the podium. Perez’s spin was caused by the engine cutting out, which should give Red Bull enough to be concerned about for the rest of the season.
It was to be Ferrari’s day as Leclerc made a strong start from pole position and quickly established a comfortable lead. With tyre degradation at an all-time high, pit stops were inevitable, and an undercut from Red Bull and Verstappen brought the race back into play.
For the next three laps, the two swapped positions before the Red Bull driver’s brakes began to overheat, possibly due to a lock-up coming into turn one.
This technical difficulty allowed Leclerc to widen his advantage once more, and he appeared to be in control until a late safety car tightened the distances. Leclerc put on a set of used softs to cover Verstappen and Red Bull, who had stopped two laps earlier.
Due to the problem with Verstappen, Leclerc had a smoother ride to the finish than he could have imagined, as the two Red Bull drivers retired with identical troubles.
It was a crucial day for Ferrari, as a one-two finish and best lap earned them maximum points, while Mercedes made an incredible recovery. Leclerc is the first Monaco driver to lead the Formula One standings, albeit after only one race making it an interesting racing season to follow.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
