Charles Leclerc has won the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain and given Ferrari its first win since September 2019. The 24-year-old Monegasque, who had already secured pole position, triumphed in his third Grand Prix win ahead of his Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
World champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was on course for the podium for a long time, but had a technical problem shortly before the end of the race and had to retire. The same happened to his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez on the last lap. In the meantime, Haas driver Mick Schumacher could hope for his first World Championship point and finally finished eleventh. Nico Hülkenberg from Emmerich, who briefly replaced the ex-world champion Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim), who was infected with Corona, in the Aston Martin, took 17th place.