Ferrari's Leclerc wins season-opening F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc won the season-opening Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Italy's Scuderia Ferrari made a flying start to the 2022 season as 24-year-old Leclerc, starting on the pole position, saw the chequered flag first at Sakhir's Bahrain International Circuit, while his Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz came second.

Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly's vehicle caught fire on lap 46. So he left the car immediately and the fire was put out. The Frenchman's race in Bahrain ended.

Then the Formula 1 Safety Car was deployed as it limited the speed of the competitors.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) was in the second place and narrowed the gap against leader Leclerc.

On lap 51 the safety car left the circuit as the gap was closed among Leclerc, second-place Verstappen, and third-place Sainz.

Then the race has gone tight among them.

Sainz skipped Verstappen on lap 54, and several seconds later, Verstappen slowed down and entered the pit with three laps to go.

The Dutch driver left the race for his car's battery issue.

On the final lap, there were no Red Bull Racing vehicles on the circuit as Verstappen's Mexican teammate Sergio Perez spun.

Leclerc won the Bahrain GP with a time of one hour, 37 minutes, and 33.5 seconds.

Sainz completed the race in the second position as he was 5.5 seconds behind Leclerc.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton came third in Bahrain to make the podium.

It is Leclerc's third Grand Prix win in his career.

Before his triumph in Bahrain, Leclerc previously claimed the podium's top spot in the 2019 Italian GP in Monza.

Thanks to Leclerc and Sainz's performances, Ferrari are leading the 2022 Constructor Standings with 44 points.

Mercedes are in the second position, having 27 points after the Bahrain GP.

Haas collected 10 points to come third in this season's Constructor Standings.

The next round, the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix will be run at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 27.